Trains.com

Mosses: a good idea for GRR article

1319 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Friday, January 5, 2007 2:12 PM
 pimanjc wrote:

 Rene S wrote:
JimC., I am forwarding your comments on to Marc Horovitz. Rene

 Rene,

Thanks for all the good articles on plants in the February GR. 

JimC.

 

My thanks too.  Also the wife (aka Supervisor of Land Management) enjoyed them and has her own set of plans from the articles, I mean, after all she is the Gardener. 

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 5, 2007 1:05 AM

I have read an article in a Kalmbach publication and i am fairly sure they said to mix the moss with yoghurt in a blender. I think the article was by jack Verducci and if it wase, everything else he has evr said has worked out.

Different subject. when i was in Greece a few years ago i saw orange and yellow moss!

Rgds ian

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 262 posts
Posted by pimanjc on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 8:49 PM

 Rene S wrote:
JimC., I am forwarding your comments on to Marc Horovitz. Rene

 Rene,

Thanks for all the good articles on plants in the February GR. 

JimC.

"Never promise more than you can give. Always give more than you promise." ~JC "You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing." ~AU
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:31 AM
 davenower wrote:
i have seen live yoghurt suggested as an idea instead of buttermilk - might work


Good thought!!!!!!  Yoghurt is a living milk culture growth, most of the water has been remeoved.  Seems as though it should work well.  (p.s. since I don't like buttermilk in the first place I never tasted it.)

Enough of this got to get back to my little war.  Such fun!

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 10:17 PM
i have seen live yoghurt suggested as an idea instead of buttermilk - might work
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 8:56 PM
just curious tom - what does it taste like?
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 8:20 PM
 FJ and G wrote:
My milk, moss solution, mixed in a blender a while back hasn't worked on my  rocks in the shade despite watering every day.


David;
Every time I read you of your postings about the moss transplanting I get the idea that you have missed the most critical element in preparation.  You keep mentioning "milk" and "2% milk",  the element you seem to be missing is buttermilkButtermilk contains a whole bunch more fats and proteins than "milk" and even more than the "2% milk".  It is these fats and proteins in buttermilk that bond the moss puree to the rocks, and give it the needed nourishment to grow.  One cup moss blended as fine as you can get it chopped up (speed 16 on my blender) add one cup buttermilk, blend until a smooth paste and apply. 

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,839 posts
Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 8:01 AM
JimC.,
I am forwarding your comments on to Marc Horovitz.

Rene

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 6:32 AM
My milk, moss solution, mixed in a blender a while back hasn't worked on my  rocks in the shade despite watering every day. It pretty much still looks like the above photo. In the above photo, I'm transplanting moss around the rocks but I wanted green rocks as well. I guess I'll just keep transplanting the moss, working my way slowly up the rocks.
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 262 posts
Posted by pimanjc on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 7:15 PM

Rene,

Feb. 2002 was before I started reading GR.  It might make a good print series to have articles discussing plants that work for Sunny, mixed light, and/or deep shade [my situation].  Who knows, there may have been some new varieties introduced that would be suitable in the 4-1/2 years since your previous article. 

Included in the article might be methods of installing, nuturing, and maintaining, as well as guides to selection based on light and temperature zone.

Thanks,

JimC.

"Never promise more than you can give. Always give more than you promise." ~JC "You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing." ~AU
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Slower Lower Delaware
  • 1,266 posts
Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Monday, October 9, 2006 4:36 PM
The green gunk on the pond rocks is more than likely algae, and if you set the rock out in the sunlight to dry it will die and become brown flaky stuff!
  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,839 posts
Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Monday, October 9, 2006 3:56 PM
Yep, we did an article on this very subject: February 2002.

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Mosses: a good idea for GRR article
Posted by FJ and G on Sunday, October 1, 2006 2:18 PM
planted some mosses along the rocks; watering them a lot. I discovered that there are sooooooooo many shades of mosses, heights, etc. Also there are green rocks which aren't really moss (i don't think?). I'm watering these every day and also the rocks (this time mixed 2% milk and moss in blender). Also, there's a rock in my pond that turned green. Is that moss? Can I just soak the rocks in water a few months and then put them on the layout?

So many questions regarding moss. Everyone likes the look of moss; anchors down the ballast and looks pretty between the rails on little used spurs.

In sunny areas, the faux moss looks good too.

Maybe an article?


Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy