Where there is a will there is a way

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Moss graffiti or garden decor

Spotted on do the green thing, Anna Garforth's beautiful use of it:
http://www.dothegreenthing.com/blog/grow_your_own_graffiti

Original tutorial is here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Moss-Graffiti/


RECIPE
Several clumps of moss
1 pot of natural yoghurt
or 12oz buttermilk (experiment to see which works best)
1/2 tsp of sugar
blender
Plastic pot
(with a lid)
Paint brush
Spray mist
-er
- If growing you're moss inside you will also need a seed tray containing compost


1 - Horticulturist's of the past came up with a brilliant recipe to encourage the growth of moss to age and add interest to their garden designs, this recipe can be used as an an environmentally friendly alternative to spray paint. The success of the recipe itself can be very hit and miss and is very much dependent upon choosing exactly the right location and weather conditions; moss thrives in the damp and can most often be found growing near to a leaky drainpipe or rain-soaked wall. If you have difficulty finding the right climate in which to grow your moss, grow it indoors (where it can be frequently spray-misted with water) and transplant it outdoors as soon as it has begun to grow.

2 - Moss can often be found growing in damp areas, between the cracks in paving stones, on drainpipe covers or, in this example, near to a riverbank.


3 - Gather several clumps of moss in a bag and take them to a place where you can easily wash them


4 - Carefully clean the moss of as much mud as possible.


5 - Place some of the moss, the buttermilk (or yoghurt) and sugar into a blender and start to mix. This must be done in small phases as the moss can easily get caught in the blades of blender. Keep blending until you have a green milkshake with the texture of a thick smoothie. Pour the mixture into a plastic container.


6 - Paint your chosen design onto your chosen location or (if growing indoors) on top of a flattened layer of compost in a seed tray.


7 - Ensure that your moss design is kept moist by spray-misting it with water regularly. After a few weeks the moss should start to re-constitute and grow.


8 - If growing moss indoors transfer it to a suitable location (where it is likely to be kept damp) outdoors. Return regularly to the location and see its progress, spray-misting it if it starts to dry out.

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