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
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Crystal
How would I go about preserving a large amount at once, without breaking it apart? I'm making a table cloth with some for my wedding and I'd like to do this right the first time! (I'm sure the obvious thing would be to get a tub large enough but that could get expensive with the glycerin and denatured alcohol...)
tanya
hmmm.
I was so excited at the thought of being able to preserve some moss for an art project that I rushed out and grabbed the supplies right away. However I had a massive fail. Correct ingredients/ratio/measuring, so what the heck happened? I ended up with ultra-glossy and soggy moss that never firmed up even after spending 3 days in the sun outside on newspaper.
Fortunately no partygoers were harmed in this experiment.
Any tips?
TAnya
The writing on this is so good and funny that I decided to subscribe to whatever, whatever you've got going on. Thanks for a great read and fantastic info!
Karen
Thanks Tanya. Welcome to the site! ~ karen (that wasn't particularly funny. or good)
TAnya
I laughed. I cried. I signed up for the newsletter ;-)
sara
Thank you so much, I did the other process today with the drying moss then heated glycerin and your way seems much easier and efficient so thank you again :)
sara
So I do have a question, did you dry the moss out before putting it in the solution or do you just pick and put it in? And if so for how?
Karen
Hi Sara! Nope, there's no need to dry it out. Just clean it a bit. You know, for the bugs and twigs, lol. After dipping the moss will last forever. It's incredible! Have fun. ~ karen
Tori
Hello..
This made me chuckle and was informative..double bonus.
Will this method work with Lichen or Lichen flowers?
thank you thank you thank you
tori
Karen
Hi Tori. Reindeer moss is a lichen, so depending on what you're planning on preserving it should work. you're welcome you're welcome you're welcome. ~ karen!
Melissa
K...I'm sitting on a mossy log overlooking a brand new beaver dam on our property thinking "I need me summa this moss" and since I'm all modern tech n'all I looked up how to preserve on my iPhone and I'm sitting here on this log with my dog jack all "come ooooooon mom!" And I am just CRACKING UP over this post if yours!!!
Kate Sparrow
First of all, thank you for the comedy. As if this wasn't fun enough to learn about all on its own, your wise cracks take it to the next level. Funny stuff. I want more!
Secondly, thanks for sharing this. I've been wondering how to do this for years and what do ya know, I finally got around to googling it and was lucky enough to find you here. Much appreciated!
Last thing, do you know if this will work on ferns or other plants?
One more big thanks!
Kate
Karen
Hi Kate. Well now I'm gonna have to go back and re-read this post. It's funny you say? Huh. So, I haven't used this techinque with anything other than moss. Both reindeer moss and regular moss. The regular moss (button moss) lost most of its original bright green colour, but it preserved just fine. So the same thing might happen with the fern. I'm not sure. It's an easy and inexpensive enough project that it shouldn't be too hard to give it a shot and then promptly report back to me so I know how it went. ;) ~ karen!
Olga
I have no hope we going to see the 3rd corner of the kitchen anytime soon. Every post is going to be just a tease until we all just drop to our knees and beg. lol
Sarah
K is for KITCHEN!!! I suspect this (albeit wonderful ) post is mosstly a diversion! Think you may have a mutiny on your moss covered hands soon! Truly, madly, deeply,. . . we all scream 'more kitchen'!!! All in agreement? Say 'eye'!!
Barbie
I can attest that the second method does and will last. I have done systemic preserving for years with our business in large quantity....and we use glycerin and dye (also some surfactant for help with the updraw)(I simply use dish soap for surfactant) instead of expensive something or other...works just as good. Great post!
Cimpan Lucian
Hello Ms. Barbie,
First let me thank Ms.Karen for her helpful post. I myself am looking to make a framed moss panel. Since I can't find dried moss in my country and buying from somewhere else would be too expensive, I thought I'd give this method a try (there's a lot of bun moss growing in the woods near my house, so raw material would not be a problem). I understand that for the colors to keep looking fresh I need to use dye- and from your comment I see I have to use also dish soap. Could you please tell me what type of dye and soap you would recommend, what should i be looking for - there are many products out there that contain a lot of different chemicals, so i don't know if all of them work.
Thank you for your time,
Lucian Cimpan
Barbie
Lucian, we just use any cheap dish soap and there is actually no exact science to it. We just put a "glug" into the container with the glycerin and dye and swish it around until it is nice and bubbly....it is simply to make the uptake go easier.....surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension) between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. It's a wetting agent so to speak. We get our dye from a company in Colorado http://www.kochcolor.com/absorptiondyes_main.htm....but you may try going online and searching the term "Dyes for systemic preserving" Hope this helps.
Nancy Blue Moon
This is so great for my Fairy Gardens..Gnome Gardens..Terrariums..So off to gather the lovely moss in the Magical Forrest beside my house..where the Fae and the Wee Ones live..One bit of warning..never piss-off the Fairys..they have wee little bad tempers..lol
Liz
Karen is funny, she is smart
She makes doing stuff an art
She will teach you if you don't know it
and super fun bonus...
she's a poet!
moss.
Karen
LOL!! Hey. You tryin' to steal my job? ~ karen!
Kelli
*guffaw* I've had one hell of a morning, so this was just what I needed.
Many thanks to you, your moss, and your "creative process" for giving me the giggles. Seems to happen a lot when I come here. :)
Robin
Thanks for the handy info. Can't wait to try to preserve some moss... And thanks for sharing what the contents of your medicine cabinet are...now I don't have to wonder what' s in there!
Vicky
The spider makes me nervous. I don't like them.
gogothrift@etsy.com
love those brown turdy looking mossies....what are they???
Melissa in North Carolina
Interesting stuff...that includes the bowl of whatever is handy. You must be full of it...
I, too, want another corner!!!! Cabinets, please. You keep teasing us.
West Coast Nan
"foreverishy", my new favourite word! I am going to work that into a converstation...
Ruth
I got totally distracted by your weights (not that I have moss in my neck of the woods anyway)... but let's talk about those suppositories. Do they work as well as the ointment? Inquiring minds would like to know.... ;-D
Karen
LOL! ~ karen