First Plants Caused Ice Ages, New Research Reveals". Sciencedaily.com. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013 . Retrieved 11 September 2013. Tropical mosses seem like the natural fit – and that’s often correct – but several of my favorite terrarium mosses are actually temperate species (more on where to find those later). Mood Moss and Cushion Moss are both adaptable temperate species.

I would recommend including some activated charcoal within your substrate to bind any harmful chemicals that may pass through the water. I don’t think it shines in a mossarium compared to some of the other options above, but if you can get your hands on something high quality, it can create an organic feel to your design. If you’re looking for moss, you generally have two options: buy it or harvest it yourself. Here’s a guide on where to buy live moss if you’d like to go that route. But…you can also gather moss yourself! a b c de Sousa, Filipe; etal. (2019). "Nuclear protein phylogenies support the monophyly of the three bryophyte groups (Bryophyta Schimp.)". New Phytologist. 222 (1): 565–75. doi: 10.1111/nph.15587. hdl: 1983/0b471d7e-ce54-4681-b791-1da305d9e53b. PMID 30411803. S2CID 53240320.

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Once hydrated, the moss is easy to handle and can be used to create an effective humid hide for your pet.

Ramsay, Helen P.; Berrie, G. K. (1982). "Sex determination in bryophytes". Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory. 52: 255–274. Ginseng harvesting should be done carefully, using a garden fork or your fingers. After harvesting, the ginseng roots should be washed gently – without using scrub brushes – and placed on screens to dry. Outdated techniques to avoid include heat drying, peeling, and storing ginseng roots in plastic. a b c d e f g h Kimmerer, Robin Wall (2003). Gathering Moss. Corvallis, Oregon: Oregon State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87071-499-3.Characteristics: This moss gets its name from growing in recently burned environments. Plus, it has bright red stalks that produce spores. Just because moss grows somewhere, however, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to harvest it. Moss serves important roles in nature. Here is some excellent guidance on mossy areas in which to avoid actually harvesting the moss (take a photo instead!):

If you don’t have moss in your own yard (but think it grows it your climate…which it likely does!), it is important to find an appropriate location where you can forage for moss. You’ll need permission from the landowner and the right to collect and take home materials. Many areas also have specialized forest product harvesting laws that include moss collection. Cut the cake horizontally through the centre of the cake to make two layers. Sandwich the layers of the cake with mascarpone cream, leaving 3 Tbsp cream for the top. Spread the rest of the cream over the entire cake and sprinkle with crumbs. Also, avoiding preserved moss for your mossarium project is advisable. It will likely contain dyes and chemicals that can leech and damage any living material.

Finding your own moss outdoors is more affordable. Collecting your own moss from a known area also means that you’ll have confidence that the moss hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals. You’ll spend some enjoyable time out in nature learning how to harvest sustainably from the forest. On the cusp of winter 2021, I went for a walk in the woods near my house in Oxford. By a bench that overlooks the city, I happened upon a moss-covered log that glistened green under the overcast sky. The moss’s leaves were as tiny and intricate as the finest embroidery, and as thin as clingfilm. I brushed my fingertips over the feathery bed in awe of its minuteness and complexity, before taking a dozen photographs. When was the last time I had touched moss? When was the first? I remember trees, rivers, mountains, but not moss. But, that day, I felt as if moss summoned me to pay attention to its rigour and beauty amid its great arboreal cousins.