I'd like to start us off today with a poem.
Moss is soft
Moss is green
Moss is where the wormies scream
when you on them step
by accident
by karen
copyright 2014
I'm not sure how much screaming they actually do when you step on them considering they don't make a sound when you accidentally cut them in half with a shovel, but poems are meant to evoke emotions more than truth. Like political campaign commercials.
So moss. That's what we're dealing with here today on The Art of Doing Stuff. I've been preserving moss for about 8 years now.
You've probably all either seen or bought Reindeer Moss (which is actually a lichen). It's a soft, fluffy moss used as filler in planters and flower arrangements. It's usually died a lime green colour. Nice, but not completely natural. Like my hair.
Preserved reindeer moss is also very expensive. Like my hair. So when we went up to the cottage a 8 or so years ago and I saw reindeer moss growing all over the cottage property I figured I'd grab some and figure out how to preserve it once I got home.
Turns out it wasn't very hard, but finding reliable instructions to do it was. Therefore, because I like to share all that is good, easy and crafty in this world I have for you today 2 easy ways to preserve any moss.
I've used this technique with both Reindeer moss (which we have established is indeed actually a lichen) and regular button moss.
The first method I'm going to show you is the one I can absolutely guarantee works. I used this particular technique 8 years ago to preserve some Reindeer moss and some button moss and both types are still as soft and pliable as the day I picked them.
You'll need Glycerin and Methyl Hydrate (or Denatured Alcohol).
Glycerin is available on the shelf in drugstores ($5.99)
Methyl Hydrate (or Denatured Alcohol) is available in hardware stores (can't remember how much ... but it's cheap)
Pick the twigs and leaves out of your moss and send the party goers home.
Mix together 2 parts Glycerin with one part Methyl Hydrate.
Stir it up with your tongue. Just joking. Please don't do that.
Place your moss in the bowl and leave it for 10 minutes or so to absorb the mixture. If only half of the moss is being covered just flip it after 5 minutes.
After the 10 minutes are up, remove the moss, squeeze out the excess mixture and then transfer the moss to another container to drain. Once it's drained, place on a paper towel for more drainage.
Repeat this process keeping new moss in the mixture and draining the already soaked moss.
The moss may feel like it's going a little bit crunchy at first. That's just the methyl hydrate removing the moisture from the moss. Don't worry. It'll turn soft again. Don't fiddle with it and crunch it up. Just leave it.
Leave your moss on towels (paper or otherwise) to dry for the next couple of days. Once you can feel it's soft and pliable but not wet, put it in bags or plastic containers until you want to use it. It will stay soft and pliable forever now.
The second technique which I tried and worked (but can't guarantee it will keep moss soft for years) is slightly different.
For this method of preserving moss you need Glycerin and hot water.
One part glycerin, 2 parts HOT water.
Mix together the Glycerin and hot water. The point of using hot water is it will help the moss more easily absorb the glycerin.
Put a batch of moss into the mixture and leave it for an hour (or until the mixture has completely cooled)
You may need to weigh the moss down to ensure it's completely covered by the hot water/glycerin solution. Just put another bowl over the moss and weigh it down with a brick.
If you don't have a brick, just use whatever you have handy.
To repeat this process with another batch of moss you have to reheat your water and glycerin solution. I dumped mine into an old tupperware container and just heated it up in the microwave. You could also reheat it over the stove.
The second technique using only hot water and glycerin has kept the moss soft for a few days now, but I have no idea if it will hold up as well as the glycerin/methyl hydrate solution over time. For now, so far so good.
Like I said, this technique will work with any moss.
Mossy moss
You're soft and squishy
With this solution
foreverishy.
by Karen
copyright 2014
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Feral Turtle
You are definitely a true poet! Thanks for the laugh this morning!
Karen
I really am. ~ karen
Ev Wilcox
Though some of us wanted another kitchen corner, I did like your weights!
Mary Werner
How very smart of you to get a copywrite for those poems! You make me laugh even without saying anything like what you used for bowl weights. Looks like we could use a tutorial on 101 ways to use glycerin!
jainegayer
I was planning to plant roses today but now all I want to do is preserve moss. It would look so nice in my with my orchids. OK, I need a life!
Lynne from Design The Life You Want to Live
I was all set to dive right in and preserve moss. We legit have about 100 acres of the stuff. Then.I.saw.the.spider.
Ha! I think it is a better idea for you to come here and stay in the treehouse while preserving moss. Problem solved.
:)
Karen
I think that is not a better idea, lol. The treehouse part sounds good. But being stuck in it preserving moss like I'm on some sort of mossy chain gang is not. ~ karen!
Suzanne @ Le Farm
So, wondering why you can't just air dry it since it just sits still when in use? I guess I mean that if it turns brittle, no one should notice if it is in a flower pot? But, I've only used moss outside, still living, so I have limited brain space taken up with such thoughts. Thanks for the DIY!
Karen
Mainly because you're right. It turns VERY brittle. You can't even touch it because it crumbles. Also, because most people change their planters or flower arrangements or whatever, it's good to have something that you can take out and use again. If it's dry you can't do that. The other thing about preserving it is, because the moss is still pliable, you can mush it and bend it and form it around little plants in your planter. ~ karen!
mayr
How do you know this stuff?
Also, the "whatever you have handy picture" = BAHAHAHAHA!
Tigersmom
Whatever you have handy - hehehehehe.
Didn't the weight of the brick or handy items smush the moss and misshape it or is moss way tougher than I'm giving it credit for being?
I, obviously, have had very limited experience with moss.
Karen
Moss is a very resilient greenery Tigersmom. She bounced right back into shape. ~ karen!
Sue Schneider
Thanks for a very useful tutorial!
JennyW
Can we all just take a moment, and be grateful, that spiders don't fly....
mimiindublin
Love your idea of "whatever you have handy" for weighing things down...but I think you're teasing us by not showing the label on the bottle Karen!!
Jacquie
Love the stuff you weighed the bowl down with; made me snort water out of my nostrils. I had just taken a drink - I don't keep water up there for such occasions. Best to clarify that I feel.
Nancy
This is so exciting! You're a genius, Karen. I love moss but I don't know what kinds we have. In the pacific NW there are different looking mosses EveryWhere. They sell moss killer by the tons. So sad. Did y'all know moss blooms in the spring.? It does. Tiny white fairy flowers. I going to try and preserve blooming moss.
Margaret K.
The plant with white flowers is not an actual moss - it's related to pinks and chickweed, although its common name is "Irish moss". It might not respond as well to to the glycerin/alcohol treatment, particularly the flowers. You can glycerin tree leaves, though the process is a little different. I hadn't seen this suggested for moss before - learn something new all the time.
nancy
Oh thanks for the info. I am from Louisiana, we only have Spanish moss. I have to try preserving Irish moss anyway, it's part of the TAoDS attitude.
Debbie
I love this post and wish I'd known about this three years ago when I had to buy a bunch of expensive moss for hats a friend and I were making for Saratoga Hat Day. The hats had little race horse trains going around the brim and a working water fountain in a gazebo on top of the hat. We won first place. The moss was for decoration with little flowers around the race track on the brim. Yes, we wore the hats all day and they stayed on our heads.
I love the line: "It’s usually died a lime green colour." The clever use of "died" rather than "dyed" is sheer brilliance!
After three hours of lesson planning, I go to sleep with a smile on my face. Thank you!!!
Kristin Ferguson
If you don't post a picture of that hat, I consider it cruel and unusual punishment.
Kat
I do not want to preserve moss even though I am crafty that way but your post today intrigued me as I have a cool bottle of glycerin (it is one of those dark brown glass bottles from the pharmacy 20 oz. in fact) in my fridge that I bought a long time ago (I was going to make a new revolutionary skin mosturizer) and I know the expiration date is long gone but have no idea how to dispose of it? I think I will secretly dig a hole in the back yard and dump it in killing all worms and sucking the moisture out of them. LOL!!! Not really but what the hell am I going to do with it?
Mary Werner
Glycerin is a by-product of turning oil into fuel industry and is used by road department to "water" down the dusty dirt roads - suppose to be completely biodegradable and is great for your hands. Stampers use it to refresh their ink pads and can be used for embossing. Great product and cheap. Don't think it needs refrigeration nor would there be an expiration date.
Laura Bee
Once again ~ you have changed my life. Or at least given me another bit of very, very useful knowledge.
Just last week I picked up a piece of bark with a little moss on it & the next day it was dead! The fairies have been mad all week.
Your poetry is brilliant.
Amie Mason
Very interesting! I've never used moss for decorating but I do I love using sphagnum moss for creating terrariums. Is sphagnum moss available to buy over there Karen?
You might enjoy this: http://www.fishandthelemontree.com/in-the-garden/orchid-terrarium/
Cynthia Jones
That FB site is Old Moss Woman's Secret Garden. Methinks you may be part fey. Like a wise woman who would live in the forest in olden days, making stuff, fixing stuff and trying to avoid that bunch of guys coming up the path with pitchforks. :)
Pat
I wanted another corner of the kitchen.
Liesl Joubert
Me too
Ev Wilcox
Me too!
Rondina Muncy
And instead we got ... moss.
That alright by me because I actually purchased a little container of moss for the very first time a couple of weeks ago. This is Texas. I've never seen moss grow on anything. It's growing like crazy on the window sill, but I don't know what to do with it. I can replace all the fake moss in my glass succulent containers with it, but otherwise I'm clueless. I'm also clueless as to how to keep this stuff alive and multiplying. Any help would be appreciated because it's not like they sell this stuff all the time.
Cynthia Jones
Just for readers in Australia, denatured alcohol is called Methylated Spirits here. The manufacturers started tinting it purple years ago in an attempt to stop people drinking it for a cheap buzz. I guess that might change the colour of the soaked moss slightly but not too much. I have spent many hours doing Important Faerie Work decorating my letterbox, mushrooms and teacups with fake moss and glue. This is a great chance to try something new. Hmm....I wonder if spraying this mix onto stone or brick that is moss-covered would preserve it outdoors. Check out Old Moss Woman on Facebook, Karen. Another lover of moss and mushrooms.
Debby
you can in Australia get the non purple metho-you just need to ask they keep it off the shelf in hardware shops & some stores
Michelle A Bergkamp
I love your sense of humor
Jamieson
Classy picture lol. Just another silly day at the orifice?
An Ode To This Post
Here's a picture of some sphagnum,
With some cream for itchy bag, mum.
That's as far as I got.
Karen
I think classy is spelled with a K. ~ karen
Pam'a
::snicker::
Linda
I really love your blog. You make me happy & I would love to meet you. I donated $5. because I will forget or not be bothered so I hope this helps. Keep up the good, fun and interesting blogs!