Evening all,
I’m very new to bonsai - like brand new - and am really enjoying the content.
I noticed in a few of the streams Ryan has moss that he sprinkles over the freshly potted plants and then sprays it to make sure it stays in place. I was wondering if any of the other Aussies here knew if we can source that stuff out here, and if so, where.
Cheers.
Hi @Jimmy,
I don’t know about Aus, but in the UK we get sphagnum moss from garden centres, where it is sold to line hanging baskets. It comes from NZ, so you should be a bit closer!
Here is the sphagnum moss recall seeing Ryan using in the “Topdressing Creation” video.
And here is the sum ink for dying the moss
I checked Amazons Australia website and there are both available.
Do you have access to video streams? The top dressing is made of sphagnum moss shredded through a sifting screen or grate, and mixed with dried moss collected from an aggregate or surface like rock, brick, cement or asphalt. The moss is grated and sifted and then mixed with the shredded sphagnum and dyed to make it less white looking.
this is the stream. https://live.bonsaimirai.com/library/video/topdressing-creation
The reason to use top dressing is to enable roots to form all the way from the top of the soil to the bottom of the soil with the additional benefit of changing color when the moss becomes dry.
Welcome to the world of bonsai!
The ink is only to make the moss less white so it is more pleasing to the eye. Dying the moss is not necessary for the health of the tree.
Thanks for the responses. I hadn’t seen the topdressing video in the library. The packet that I saw him using in the other videos was just a reused akadama bag. Cheers. Need to go searching around for some moss to add to the spagnum moss.
Yes, Ryan uses empty akadama bags to store the Moss-mix. Cheers, Max
Spot on response. Great explanation Bonsai Bob!!
Look for the short fine moss that grow on stone and brick. Be careful not to introduce weeds or aggressive ground covers that will compete with the tree.
I am only repeating what I have learned from Mirai. I am so grateful for all the streams and feedback from forum participants.
Keep on keepin on!