Re: SG: Mosses and Websites and Winter Garden

In a message dated 12/22/1999 9:31:50 AM Eastern Standard Time,
genebush@OTHERSIDE.COM writes:

<< I have a limestone sculpture I purchased about 2 years ago for the garden.
It
 is my hope to remember to grow moss on the stone and base this spring. I
will be
 using stale beer and moss in a blender, then painting all over the statue.
Since
 limestone is a bit porous, I fully expect to see moss on any protected
crevice,
 north and lesser extent on the east side. >>

gene, limerock is the antithesis of moss loving environments.  aside from
some varieties i understand grow on the limestone of the niagra escarpment.
(anyonewho can send a few samples, would get lotsa moss info back)
being a dealer in concrete japanese style lanters, full of lime, i found
these things helpful:
bathe or spray your lime rock with a mild acidic solution.
vinegar is acceptable, tho weak, and requires repeating.  makes the whole
hood smell like a vinagrette.  this is known as "acid pickling".
muriatic acid is stronger, but increasingly dangerous, cuz of splashback, and
overspraying., also fumes can burn eyes and lungs.
once free lime is removed, the moss will do better on the "rock"
also, some mosses are rock moss, some are wood moss, etc etc.  find mosses
growing on rock to begin with.
along with the stale beer, use a tiny bit of finely mashed potato(e) (sorry
dan), and a smidge of "rottenstone".  (found rarely in paint supply stores)
i add a few drops of superthrive also, to promote healthy microfloral
colonies.

another alternative is , after the "acid pickling", bury the rock in horse
manure (sheep would be ok, too).
this is an old technique used by a long famous nursery woman here in the
sayouth.
she buried hers in fall, and would have (the help) unearth them in spring.
after misting, the mosses would appear soon.
and mist, mist, mist.
hope this helps everybody.
btw, i teach classes in moss gardening here at the Ichiyo art center, as part
of my Japanese horticulture stuff.
feel free to ask anything on or off list.

y'all be good

harry abel
7a
nawuth jawuhhhhhjuh
http://members.aol.com/Shishi/shink.index.html
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