Moss and Bonsai Tree Health | Moss does THAT to your bonsai?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Moss for thought! I personally love it, as long as you keep it trimmed in height and you keep it away from the trunk, all is good. I find you can read the moss, just like the surface of soil to tell if your tree needs water. It certainly helps keep the soil a more consistent level of dampness from the top to the bottom, especially on hot dry days. Have a great holiday season Dave!!!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Nigel! I would love moss a lot more if there were no birds in the area here.. And yes keeping it away from the trunk is an almost daily task... there's always one that creeps up on you! But yes it's worth the hastle, on balance. Have a great Christmas holiday too!

[@janbowles2449]

Thanks for the information I guess it's down to the individual to chose

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yes exactly! If you like it, keep it. If not, remove it when you see it starting to grow.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! Wishing you a healthy and peaceful holiday. 🎄🎄🎄😊 And thank you so much for all your support and kind words!!

[@baldyeti]

I dig it when you bring out the white board. I pause it, prepare myself to focus, give a little “here-we-go”, and press play again. Great info on moss, Dave. I like to let it grow on the outside edges of the pot and let it creep towards the tree, then rip it back. The mounding type, I am playing with shaping into “bushes” (mimicking Nigel’s forests).

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Billy, really appreciate your comments! The whiteboard is always fun to do.. but of course takes five times longer than the rest of the film... Yes you can do some fun scenes with moss, I just wish the blackbirds were allergic to it. Merry Christmas!

[@hoser9463]

who da thought, i'm watching a video about moss. but so informative as i am a bonsai noob, and need to know a bit about moss, thank you from North Alabama!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! And whodathought I would make a video about moss some 20 years after I first started into bonsai.. but here we are!

[@markirish7599]

Fun fact. Moss created the atmosphere that gave life on this planet a chance. Love your craftsmanship Best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Yes it's amazing to think that moss was there and pumping out oxygen before any of our nowadays plants and trees. Cheers!

[@EMATREMA]

great video! Another benefit of the boss is that (especially when tick) create awesome isolation. If you are growing bonsai in very cold climates it’s a must to prevent very cold temperature to penetrate down the pot 😉

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Yes that's a really good point - it's not been necessary for me here in Madrid but certainly in colder climates I can see that would be an excellent benefit. 👍

[@SVIMXNmtg]

Best Bonsai channel ever! Im absolutely in love with the scientific breakdowns, thank you so much mate!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for your great comments! I don't know about the best channel ever but I try to make it accessible to everyone. And also I try to make it clear that there is no dark art in bonsai.. it's just nature, patience, snipping, potting and optional wiring... (ha! I should use some of that on my channel intro!! 😂 cheers and happy new year!

[@SVIMXNmtg]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Good one hahah! Whatever intro ill keep watching your videos :) i just upgraded to around 40 trees this winter and really looking forward and planning for the upcoming spring, if you are interested i could send you some pictures to have your thoughts on some of the trees :)

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@SVIMXNmtg feel free to email me via [e-mail] but I would also recommend set yourself up a free Flickr account that allows you up to 1000 photos with as many albums as you have trees - it's a great way to track progress on each one and share the photos at the same time...

[@tasanastasi7799]

Im with you & Nigel , moss is good and makes the Bosai tree look even better --- white board lecture ,top quality ..Nice one Dave

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Tas. Yes moss is good as long ss the birds stay away! Cheers!!

[@mattbrennan647]

Always great informative videos Dave. I love your illustrations explaining your thoughts. Have a Merry Christmas. Looking forward to watching another season of your videos. Thanks, keep growing

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Matt I always appreciate your great comments. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! Hope you have a superb growing season in 2023.

[@ponderanceofagravedigger2564]

This channel is fantastic. Your methods of explaining everything thoroughly in an easy to understand way is great! Thank you for everything. My new favorite channel.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank you so much for your great feedback! Sometimes I wonder if I'm making my explanations too thorough or too simple.. but clearly it resonates with people... Thanks again!

[@ponderanceofagravedigger2564]

@@BlueSkyBonsai it's just right. Thank you!!

[@swimminwitdafishes8059]

Not technical at all but, for me, bonsai is simply doing what I like and the aesthetics of moss are calming.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yep, I also find it calming.

[@zn4rf]

I was thinking about using moss, but before this vid I only found information that skirted around the topic and/or did not explain anything... thanks for making this vid.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for your comment! And in the end have you decided to use moss or decided against it? If you have a lot of birds in your area it can be a real problem!

[@hudcat]

I'm just getting into bonsai and have found your videos very very helpful in the simple explanations and illustrations. Cheers!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Glad you're finding the videos helpful.

[@SysterYster]

His videos are very good for beginners. :) I've followed Dave since I started with mine two years ago. :) He's so helpful, and not just in the videos but in comments too.

[@user-fb3pu3qx3t]

My favourite bonsai channel! Happy Christmas Dave, from the UK 🎄🍾🥂

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much! Merry Christmas too!!

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Trying to remove moss is an endless battle, so just leave it hahah. i think it does more good than bad anyway. It looks like some of yours has grown incredibly thick this year!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You're right, and the bird attacks continue unrelenting! Have a good Christmas Ian!

[@edinborogh]

Can't wait for your Sunday's content Ian. Happy holidays!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Great video David. Very informative and top editing - as always. 🙏 I personally love moss - it is a beautiful and much under appreciated plant that has such huge variety. It also improves the look of the tree, in my opinion, simulating grass and adding to the sense of scale of the tree. 🌳

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Jason! Really appreciate your comments. In some ways I feel the same about moss, but with all the pesky blackbirds here I have become less fond... guess you don't have a bird issue in your town?

[@davidreid622]

Always a joy when one of your videos pops up, Dave. Very informative as always, thank you. I have never "used" moss yet it just seems to arrive on a lot of my trees. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't, depending on the tree.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks David! I appreciate that. Yes I think for most people moss is a personal choice and as you say it can even be on a tree by tree basis. Just wish the birds would stay away from the bonsai benches!

[@raymondplodzien7459]

I use it mainly on my group plantings for the look of grass. Very much enjoyed your video David.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Raymond! Yes I love the way it looks like grass in forest scenes. Merry Christmas!

[@janbasson5653]

Hi. I like moss a lot now I know more so I will grow more moss to beatify my plants and trees. Thanks a lot

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Great! Try not to let it grow up the trunk though.

[@jmmvangoor]

Hi Dave, thanks again for the educational video. I always wondered what the attraction was moss on birds, thanks for the explanation. Greetings from the Netherlands and the best for 2023

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks and happy new year 2023 too! Glad you found useful information in the video.

[@bonsaimonsai]

hey dave, silent watcher here :D i wish you would have more videos, they are sooo calming, i love that :)

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your kind words 😊

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Btw there is another guy that creates lots of relaxing bonsai videos, I recommend you take a look if you didn't already see it: youtube.com/@TheBonsaiGarden

[@bonsaimonsai]

thanks for the tipp, didn't know this channel

[@-ChrisD]

Alot of shared information! Hope you had a wonderfully blessed Christmas and have a great New Years 🎉

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much! Also wishing you a happy new year!!

[@AlwynFisher]

I like moss on a bonsai, I think it doubles up aesthetically as grass from where it grows. However, I find it grows differently in each pot. I have a small horse chestnut and last years moss was the lushest ever, however in a larger, shallower pot I couldn't get it to grow at all. Either way, after watching this video I'll be taking it off all my trees and letting it start to grow again in March.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yes also here, it's definitely not the same in each pot. Some seem to favour moss more than others. My largest shallow pot has a ginkgo forest in it and that is seriously overrun with moss this winter. But several other shallow pots seem not to have adopted moss this year. Same with deeper - some have it and others don't. Ultimately I remove the moss on spring so I can see the soil surface in summer, and because it I know it'll come back by autumn anyway.

[@Marcusstratus]

Excellent. Thanks for going over some pros and cons. Being in NW USA, moss flourishes and I usually let it just take off.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Markus! If there were no birds here I would certainly let it take off... instead the birds take it off!!

[@Marcusstratus]

@@BlueSkyBonsai oh well, I get them doing that too 🤣

[@PumpkinBecki]

Merry Christmas Dave! Lovely to see you xx I actively encourage moss on my pots for exactly the reasons you mention, keeping it away from the tree trunk and trimming/removing it altogether if needed xx

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Rebecca, merry Christmas! Great to hear from you! Hope all is okay over there. Good call on the moss.. I just wish the blackbirds would leave em all alone!

[@sueb1317]

Love this informative vid. Will really help me maximize water management here in the Pacific NW with our extremely dry summers, but rainforest wet, cold winters. Much appreciated! Best holiday wishes to you and your family!!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Sue, it makes me very happy to hear my videos are helping! Wishing you and your loved ones a merry Christmas and all the best for the 2023 Growing Season!!

[@megarciagzzmty]

Excelente video, muy clara e ilustrativa cada una de las menciones que se hacen el

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Muchas gracias amigo! Me alegra que te haya gustado 👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

A lovely video David and a good reminder of the principles of water movement within the soil. As for me, the birds go crazy in my collection so I have had to stop mossing altogether. It only looks good on my bonsai for a day and then I find it looks much better all over the paving stones :( All the best for the New Year and 2023. God bless, Xav

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Xav! I'm with you on the birds problem.. too many, too pesky and too clever to be fooled by my shiny disks, pretend owl, and other deterrents. Trouble is, some of the moss looks so good I haven't got the heart to continually remove it. Cheers and happy holidays, best wishes for 2023!!

[@richardnathandaniels2534]

Your videos are so educational!! Thank you so much!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks, happy to hear my videos are helping people! 👍

[@richardnathandaniels2534]

@@BlueSkyBonsai they really are helping! Are you a teacher by training or just naturally a teacher?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@richardnathandaniels2534 by profession I am a technical writer / documentation specialist. So, not a trained teacher but an experienced explainer!

[@richardnathandaniels2534]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Well, it definitely shows in your videos. Thank you so much for the work you do.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@richardnathandaniels2534 thanks again for your kind words! 🙏

[@DavesBonsai]

Great video! Excellent information. I like moss, but have a tough time keeping any alive on any of my trees. Someday!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Dave I really appreciate your visit and kind comment. It's a funny old thing moss, some people have a hard time controlling it and removing it from their trees, while others have a challenge keeping it alive. Maybe I should try selling the big tufts that I take off, still attached to some of the bonsai soil beneath... like turf rolls of grass for gardens! on the other hand it would be almost impossible to import in US and Canada due to the tight regulations on importing plant material.

[@thelazybonsai]

Noice. Merry Christmas! I like moss for the water retention and visual aspects

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Yes moss looks good on any bonsai but I end up removing a lot of it too! Merry Christmas!

[@jacktaylor6190]

Good information David! Merry Christmas!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Jack, you too!

[@Laura-fn7dq]

Great video!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family☺️☺️

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much!! Merry Christmas to you too!! 😊

[@joaomoreno8730]

Always looking forward for your videos. Chill and informative👌🏽 How’s the pergola project (part 2) going?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! I really appreciate your great feedback. The pergola project, I started it half-hearted last year in May, by erecting a post with a cross-bar at one end of the benches. That holds the shade sheet in summer which was the main purpose of the pergola design (aside from wanting ot to look nice!)

[@RosarioCostanzo]

I wish you a happy new year. Personally, I love moss. I collect it for my trees and it's helpful in winter indoor cultivation, because I have to keep my bonsai inside the house and air is too dry

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Rosario, Happy new year too. Yes I can see the advantages of moss indoors, especially also because the birds won't attack it indoors!

[@jannickharambe8550]

gonna get myself some moss today :D amazing video, thank you

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

[@Steviejapanesegarden]

Enjoyed that Merry Christmas

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Cheers! Merry Christmas too!

[@cb6778]

Thanks

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank YOU!

[@anthonykettle2039]

I love moss but can rarely transplant it! Happy Christmas! Great videos btw

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Moss just needs humidity.. doesn't matter whether it's from the air or from the surface underneath. Merry Christmas too!

[@shaolinshadowsoldier]

Great video, cheers Dave!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks 😊👍

[@hyperionhelios190]

thanks Dave.

[@EuanEllery]

Great video - I definitely like it more on some trees than others

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Euan! Yes I agree it really suits some trees and group plantings.

[@angryzombie8088]

Wow such a coincidence, I just recently experimenting on moss to see how it affect bonsai tree. About the wet base, I keep the moss away from the base. Other than that its looking good.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Sounds good! Yes for me it's a contunual chore, removing the moss from the trunks. But necessary. Cheers!

[@NgocLinhVo-Thienthong8428]

Wonderful, Bonsai 🎉🎉🎉

[@pinatajuju4471]

I always liked the look of moss, so when my trees reach a certain stage I use it.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Sounds like a good strategy. Do you find any problems with the grubs or with birds?

[@pinatajuju4471]

@Blue Sky Bonsai no, maybe it's the type of moss. Have a happy new year.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@pinatajuju4471 thanks! Happy new year to you too!

[@BONSAIenCORTO]

Really great analysis. Thanks and Merry christmas.... I usually try not to have moss...

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Merry Christmas too!

[@l3afl1p]

Ah you back 🥳🥳🥳

[@davidmorgan3508]

Aussie Dave here David, OMG sorry just seen your insiteful video. Again your video is fantastic I use moss mainly because of using small stones, when watering the stones wash off. 😀

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hey Aussie Dave no need to apologise!! Haha you could switch on notifications to my channel then you'll be one of the first to see my videos! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes you're right, once moss is established it helps to keep the top soil on place. Cheers! 👍

[@bonsaikastur]

water retention is the main feature for me

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Makes sense. Cheers!

[@dbchannel9882]

Wonderful video David, thanks for sharing your knowledge! I’m just struggling to understand how I’m supposed to know when to water the soil underneath the moss. I believe only misting the moss won’t be enough for the bonsai?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Great question. I sometimes mist the moss so that it will freely absorb water from the watering can. But just misting the moss won't give your tree's roots enough fresh oxygenated water. When we water a bonsai we need to ensure some water drains freely out of the holes under the pot. As gravity pulls down the water table in the pot, it'll also suck in some air at the surface, which is essential for the healthiest roots. Do you have granular soil under the moss? If so, you can water frequently and make sure the water runs freely out the bottom. But if you have garden/peat type soil, the roots might slowly get starved if oxygen, and like you've said with moss on top it's impossible to see of that's happening.

[@dbchannel9882]

@@BlueSkyBonsai thanks so much for the quick reply and detailed explanation 🙌🏻 I do have the organic soil type, so I think I’ll keep misting the moss frequently while making sure to water the roots too sometimes (until I see the water drain down the pot holes, like you have said). Maybe by using a moisture meter it would be easier to just stick it in the soil and see if the underlying soil needs some water.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@dbchannel9882 yes a water meter will tell you, alternatively sticking a chopstick down into the soil and then inspecting it will be a simple way of checking the moisture. Just remember that 95% of bonsai deaths occur because of drought / forgetting to water; whereas a very small percentage die of rotten roots due to waterlogged stagnating water. So.. if in doubt, err on the side of watering more!

[@dbchannel9882]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Thanks a bunch. I will keep these things in consideration from now on. Have a great day!

[@bonshaicollection3692]

Nice Collection

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks!

[@acheronexile]

Thoughts on moss. Long have I attempted to cultivate massive sheets of the precious material. Legends say ancient humans or perhaps santa claus insulated his boots with moss. But for a surface dressing, its hard to beat sifted crushed granite. It has a good look of sharp sand.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Sounds like you have developed a system that works well for you. For my top dressing I like to use materials that significantly change in tone or color when they're wet, so that it's easy to see at a quick glance if they need watering. Course that becomes irrelevant when it's covered in moss...

[@joelhiggins6156]

I wish I had the problem of too much moss! Here in the Central Valley of CA its just too hot and dry in the summer. I suppose full shade and lots of misting may help

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Joel, yes in summer I use a 50% shade over my benches, and automatic watering during the day so the moss never dries out in the hot daytime temperatures. Otherwise, like you I doubt the moss would survive. Here in Madrid in summer it usually goes above 40°C in the hot afternoons. Also, the benches are on the East side of the house so in later afternoon they are shaded.

[@joelhiggins6156]

@@BlueSkyBonsaiI used 30% shade cloth last summer but certainly going with 50 this year, hopefully that helps 😅

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@joelhiggins6156 haha just realized I wrote 40°F when I was thinking 40°C, I should have said above 100°F of course!! Now corrected 😊 And by the way on the hottest days I'm watering 4 times a day so the moss never really gets dry...

[@joelhiggins6156]

@@BlueSkyBonsai I see, yes increasing water and shade is my goal this summer ☺️

[@random_rodent]

I love the look of moss on bonsai. But don't have that much luck with it yet. Also bought one with nice moss but it all died?? Maybe it was placed afterwards? 🤔 Also my indoor ficus has some but I have to rotate it it seems because of the sun. Or maybe mist spray it or was it the lack of sunlight 🤔 O and merry Christmas too 😉👍🌟🌲

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yeah maybe the moss on the soil was already dying, usually the moss just survives and grows as long as it has moisture. Cheers!

[@NvrGoATM]

what do you think of moss substitutes like sedum? I was leaning to Cape Blanco or a type of Sedum Dasyphylllum. These grow to 2in height

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

I like sedums but personally I wouldn't put them in a pot with my bonsai because they might end up needing more attention than the tree. For soil coverings it's best not to use plants that root into the soil, so that the roots aren't competing for space with your tree's roots. Maybe in a forest scene or penjing it could be a great addition.

[@socallawrence]

Dave my moss turned yellow (bonsai came from florida) not too long after I purchased bonsai. It’s an outside only bonsai. How do I get back to green ?? Thanks !

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Keep the moss humid and don't leave it in direct sunlight for a few weeks. That could mean putting some cling film / plastic wrap over the soil every day after watering, because your tree's leaves do need direct sunlight. But ultimately don't worry about it, yellow moss is still healthy and absorbent, even if it doesn't look as nice. In the long term it will green up.

[@zzredragon]

I use moss on my bonsais because it's so great looking and keep humidity. once you are aware of the risk for your trunk it's ok. BUT, since i live in an appartment with a lil blacony, i cant get any rain water. And if i use classic kitchen water, the moss turn brown and die. I could use distilled water but since you need to keep it alwait moist, it would cost more than a bonsai per month :D Any ideas ? ( forgive my english it's not my born language )

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Your English is perfectly good enough! The water, could contain too much chlorine or flouride (depending on your country's water rules), in which case let it stand in a bucket for a couple of days so those chemicals evaporate off. But if the problem is alkaline water you can get some mild acidifier tablets. Even a tiny amount of aspirin would lower the pH. Or, if the problem is calcium carbonate in the water, which gives you limescale everywhere, you could use one of these to filter the water before you water your bonsai: www.amazon.es/AmazonBasics-Jarra-filtrado-agua-Negro/dp/B01GFJWA52/ Hope that helps.

[@zzredragon]

thanks for the help , i do wait a couple of days when i fill bottle, so that some of chemicals ( chlore ) can evaporate, so that's not the problem i guess. i think it's calcium carbonate indeed. thanks for you answer and your tip, i'll try it and tell you about. in the meantime i collected new moss (small moss, i used sphagnum moss wich is kinda big and ugly ). Maybe the new moss will be more tolerant 😄@@BlueSkyBonsai

[@bobbymalta73]

Thank You.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Welcome!

[@SysterYster]

I love the way it looks with moss. But I think I will wait to attempt any of that until my trees are older. :P But at least they're alive and well still. I think. I mean, the tropical ones are indoors and growing, and the others are sleeping on the balcony or in the cellar depending on how cold it is. :) Except for one tiny maple, I was gonna toss it out, but I figured if it survives the entire winter on the balcony, it gets to live. XD

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Syster! The good thing about having quite a number of trees is that you can make this decision for the maple without it being a big deal if it makes it through winter or not. I hope it might survive, since I guess it still had leaves as normal until autumn. Moss is just great as long as you don't have foraging birds nearby. Also less of a problem if you only use chemical fertiliser... organic ferts are like a red flag to a bull!!

[@SysterYster]

@@BlueSkyBonsai It was a fine little maple, doing well and all that. :) But it wasn't red as I had hoped. And I already have two green ones. No big risk of birds at the glassed-in balcony. :P Though it certainly can happen when it's open in the summer. But I've never seen one in there. I use chemical ones. Usually the kind you mix in the water directly.

[@Omar-al-Farouk]

Nice...👍

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks 😊👍

[@Omar-al-Farouk]

@@BlueSkyBonsai 👍👍👍😊🙏

[@radrickdavis]

Moss always returns in my rainy climate, even when using fresh new soil. So I learn to live with it. Just like a lawn it needs to be mowed down and edged when it becomes overgrown, or the tree bark will become overly shaded and perpetually damp. It is really difficult to fully clean and sanitize soil covered in moss. I usually recycle my soil by leaving it to dry in a covered bucket, and then the organic material becomes like shaff that blows off in the wind. Let me know if anyone has a better method for eliminating moss without ruining the soil.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yep, I hear you. The only way I can sanitize the soil is by scraping off all the moss radially away from the trunk, then adding a layer of fresh topsoil, fine granuals. It's once a year, any more frequent would be too much work for so many trees.

[@DoBonsai]

very nice...

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks a lot! Hope you're well.

[@DoBonsai]

@@BlueSkyBonsai I'm fine, thank you very much. Marry Christmas.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@DoBonsai happy to hear it. Merry Christmas too 👍

[@DoBonsai]

@@BlueSkyBonsai thanx bro.

[@glennmcfadgen4137]

While I've got you if you don't mind 2 questions In Melbourne here it gets very hot at times, it's 33c tomorrow and 37c Tuesday and concerning my Chinese Elm and Trident maple. The Elm is doing fantastic beautiful dark green leaves and now 5-6 cm of new growth on the 2nd flush but the original dark green leaves are starting to drop of, so interesting. Similar thing with the Maple, doing very well and then the tips of the leaves started turning brown, has gradually overtaken the whole leaf on some and they to are falling off. Bit different as the Elm leaves didn't turn brown but both frustrating. Any thoughts? One of my contacts here thought the Maple was lack of nitrogen but I'm not so sure. Do both trees have a temperature tolerance do you think and maybe just too hot and need to be brought inside if temperatures get above say 26c as an example or is it under or over watering. They are both in an open mix so I would think over watering is not the issue but then I give them enough water in my opinion so I don't know, the Maple is putting on its 2nd flush so the tree can't be that unhappy but I'm nearly at my wits end as to what's going on and that's the main reason for taking the sphag moss off so I can actually view the soil and moisture level. Any imput would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Glenn

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Glenn, I have a similar situation every summer here in Madrid. It sounds like your soil drainage is good enough so you're definitely not overwatering. In fact in summer you could water more times a day - e.g. you might consider installing an automatic watering system. Many years ago I remember seeing advice that we should only water when we see the soil is dry, and one year I lost a few trees by following that advice. It was simply bad advice for hot climates and good draining soil. So now every summer I set the watering for 3 times a day, - it never rains here in summer, and I increase to 4 times a day on really hot days above 36°. Even so, some bonsai like trident and japanese maples still get burnt leaves in the hot sun, - they are really not evolved for such strong direct sunlight in temperatures above 36 or so. Therefore in summer I keep a 50% shade cloth over my bonsai benches, right from 1st June to 30th Sept. For you would be from beginning of December through to end-March. As long as all your trees get some sunlight every day, they will fare much better if they don't have like 8+ hours of full-on direct sun all day. And never let the soil dry throughout the growing season. Hope that helps! Dave

[@glennmcfadgen4137]

Thankyou David I will work on more water and protection on the really hot days. Love your informative and detailed videos by the way they are extremely helpful, thanks again Glenn

[@Mattherat15]

I bought a Azalea house plant it came with moss should I keep it or remove it.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

If you like the look of the moss, keep it on the soil. What's the climate where you live? Azaleas usually survive better outdoors, unless it's too hot and dry. Azaleas need light, so indoors it needs to be in a bright window but not above a radiator. Also, don't let the soil dry out. it won't survive like other houseplants. Also don't let it stand in a pool of stagnating water. It's fine to keep the moss, but don't forget to water it!

[@murray821]

I think I heard Ryan Neil say that moss also filters the water and reduces the lime content.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

That sounds like a very good benefit in hard-water areas. I must do a test of that, I can easily test the calcium carbonate concentration before and after passing water through a mat of moss. Thanks!!

[@murray821]

@@BlueSkyBonsai I don’t know if it filters it directly or that the moss uses the lime or balances the acidic content. Can’t find the video at the moment where he talked about it.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@murray821 sounds right, because calcium carbonate makes water slightly alkaline and most trees prefer something between neutral and quite acidic. I definitely use rain water on the acid-loving plants like azalea and camelia.. except in the summer here there is no rainwater so I have to use our tap water and those plants don't seem to suffer in summer. Probably the soil acidity is more important. And moss is slightly acidic.

[@SysterYster]

Dave, I was given a small juniper right before Christmas. What should I do with it? They always die for me. Do they need a lot of water, or little? Do they need to be out in the cold or not? I'm unsure if it's good idea to put it out on the balcony when it's so cold. But maybe it should be in the cellar? Or should it just stay indoors since it's a Christmas juniper (I don't know what kind it is, but maybe it's some "indoor" type)? Halp?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Junipers are definitely outdoor trees, all year. What kind of pot and soil is it in? If it's indoors in the warmth at the moment, you might need to get it gradually accustomed to the cold, first day a couple of hours outside at the least cold time of day, then each day extending the time out in the cold. If you're worried about the roots freezing you could wrap up the pot in a few layers of bubble wrap while it's outside. They need enough water to keep the soil moist but should not sit in waterlogged soil. Don't water before putting it outside because the additional water in the pot could freeze and crack the pot (depending on the shape and size and material of pot). And only water it when it needs it, with fridge-cold water until spring, so the roots get the message that it's winter now! But I'm also curious, when junipers died for you in the past, were they indoors in winter? Or where were they when they died?

[@SysterYster]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Alright, thank you. I thought so. ^^; Eeehh... I haven't dug it up to check. So just a normal flower pot and soil (I assume) with moss on the top. I can put it in the cellar with the other trees then, I suppose. For training. It's around 6-10'C down there. Right now it's -10'C outside. :P Too cold to practice in. Yeah, they were indoors. But I rather like them, so I thought I should attempt to keep this one alive. XD

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@SysterYster the thing is, junipers need some light on winter days too, unlike deciduous trees . Will it get light in the cellar?

[@SysterYster]

@@BlueSkyBonsai There are two tiny windows high up. So, a little, but not a ton. Is that enough? Or is it better I put it on the balcony for just short times and get it used to it slowly? It's a little warmer today.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@SysterYster what's the temperature on the balcony? Personally I would get it accustomed to the cold, day by day, so that the foliage continues to receive enough light. On the other hand, if the balcony temperature drops to colder than -10° then yes maybe it's better in the cellar for a short period of time. But it's not like a deciduous tree that can go for three months with very little light in winter - junipers need light during winter too. Because of their small scale foliage they need as much sunlight as possible all year round.

[@Tarnishedgrimm]

do you know any methods on how to clean out moss and prevent insects from hiding inside. I’ve used moss for one of my trees and millipedes took over! pesky things.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

I occasionally spray the top surface of the moss with a mild plant-friendly water-soluble insecticide. Not an oil based insecticide, because you want the stuff to wash through the moss next time you water. If you're concerned about the effect of your spray on the moss you could try it on a small corner first? Also, if you use chunks of moss lifted from nature, it's probably already got the insect eggs or lavae in it when you place it on your bonsai soil. To avoid that, you could just trim the top of the moss and sprinkle that on your soil - it grows directly from the trimmings as long as there's enough humidity. It'll take longer to look lush, but it should be insect-free.

[@derivious2012]

i like moss, but here in adelaide australia moss is impossible to keep except for 2-3 months a year

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Is the Adeleide sun too strong for the moss? Or is it the hot dry air? A few years ago I installed a misting system in the heat of summer and the moss grew vigorously then.. worth considering?

[@derivious2012]

@@BlueSkyBonsai i woild day both. When its 45c i find water just magnifies the burn

[@Tore1972Wisdom]

How about oxygen when the pot is full of moss? Any thoughts on that? I don´t use moss at all, because i wnat to see when to water and then there is the birds i don´t wnat to through moss all over the place and mess up the garden.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

It's a good point, if the whole soil surface is covered with moss saturated in water there's a good chance the soil isn't receiving enough oxygenated water maybe the key is to over-water in that case, to be sure the water is sucking down some oxygen and expelling the older depleted water. But ultimately, as you rightly said, it's just easier to avoid moss completely so you don't get these problems... Cheers and happy new year!

[@Tore1972Wisdom]

@@BlueSkyBonsai* I must say i agree with you. There will always be pro and cons in what we do. Happy new year to you as well.

[@RJSRanchu]

Does the moss take nutrients from fertilisers instead of going to the tree ?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

I think the moss takes a share of the fertiliser, yes, but in proportion to the overall soil. I don't believe it deprives the tree of nutrients by filtering them out of the water. I have moss on some trees and not on others, and I observe the same vigorous growth on all the trees with or without moss - I fertilise them all the same way with liquid fert diluted in the water. If the moss were depriving the roots of nutrients we would see less vigorous growth on the trees with moss. Does that answer your question?

[@RJSRanchu]

@@BlueSkyBonsai thank you :)

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

In my place its so dry, that my moss dies In short time...

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

It gets very dry here too for about 5 months each year but then gets wet over autumn and winter. If you really wanted to develop moss on your soil you could try keeping cling-film over the soil all the time exceptwhen you're watering. That would keep the humidity, and let the moss grow.on the other hand it spoils the nice look of moss if you always have it covered...

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Thoird.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

😊😊👍👍

[@percyacutt3110]

No moss for me

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Very wise! I just like the look of it too much to continually remove it...

[@zicada7661]

I think all mosses you find growing naturally have antifungal properties. Why buy spaghnum moss ?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

It's true, a few years ago I used spongy moss that I picked off my lawn, and used it successfully in an air layer. flic.kr/p/24oH3VF It worked well but at the end of the process some of the longer overgrown roots had started to rot. flic.kr/p/2gnCwQM It might have been exactly the same with sphagnum, so I can't rationally blame the spongy moss for the rot. Ultimately, a bag of spagnum is quite cheap, and very convenient when you need it.

[@TheBugB]

The next question is where does one acquire moss haha

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Where are you living? I can sell you bags of the stuff if you're in the EU?

[@TheBugB]

@@BlueSkyBonsai I’m from America haha thanks anyways

[@californiagrandma]

@@BlueSkyBonsai What kind of moss do you get in bags?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@californiagrandma in bags - usually you get sphagnum moss, which is good for roots, and dressing wounds, but not so good for surface cover because sphagnum grows long and stringy. Hope that helps!

[@californiagrandma]

@@BlueSkyBonsai yes it does help, thanks! Where do you get the green moss you use for top dressing?

[@chasingthefish9042]

Moss don't grow on my bonsia trees yet

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Do you want moss? If you do, you can cultivate it from moss you find in nature on the sidewalk for example. But as you saw in this video, it's probably easier on your bonsai workload to just not have moss on them. And .. binge-watching my vids is a good thing! Anything you can see I'm doing repeatedly wrong or missing in each video? I know the music was too loud in the earlier videos - got that.

[@chasingthefish9042]

@Blue Sky Bonsai your videos are always great. I do have moss I don't think my trees are full enough or big enough to provide the shade for moss. All my trees are 6 months old other then my portulacaria afra and junipers. most of the ports are cuttings from last summer. My junipers are kinda not great I got them on sale and they looked sickly. I have 4 jpb 2 Brazilian rain trees 4 flame trees 4 crepe myrtle 1 siberian oak 2 junipers

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@chasingthefish9042 that's a good collection. My advice (unsolicited, apologies) for the junipers is to just let them grow back to health then leave them for at least 2 years, maybe more, to grow strong and vigorous. If you try to work with weak junis they don't respond well ...

[@chasingthefish9042]

@@BlueSkyBonsai I repoted one this year and I repoted one last year. I have been fertilizing them pretty vigorously. Both show new growth since repot so hopefully that's good. I won't touch them again for another couple years.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@chasingthefish9042 good work! The new foliage is always a good sign.

[@whatawonderfuldigitalworld]

I like moss but my master sais NO! So... I have it anyway in my own private specimens xD

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for your comment Carlos! Who is your master? There's also someone who lives near me in Madrid who always meticulously avoids moss on all his fantastic bonsai.

[@C1tyground5155]

I don’t show my trees,so for me moss is out.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Good shout. If you can avoid the moss appearing in the first place then you're saving yourself from some future hassle...

[@edinborogh]

Happy holidays David. Thank you for a year full of entertaining and educational content.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Edinborogh! And thanks as always for your ongoing support. Happy Holidays!!

[@katyb2793]

I'm struggling to keep any moss alive, let alone propagating it 🥲

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Sorry to hear it. Well looking on the bright side, at least you're avoiding all the insect larvae and bird attacks!! If you're really keen on getting the moss thriving, you could try putting some in a sealed clear plastic bag with some moisture for a couple of months, leave it in the light but not direct sunlight. It's usually dry air that defeats the moss so keeping it humid is the key. Good luck!

[@katyb2793]

@@BlueSkyBonsai oh that's a great tip! Thank you! We've had a very cool summer here in Australia, and it's not that humid so i suspected the humidity may be a problem. I've been sprouting flower seeds in containers on the windowsill, but why did I not think of doing something similar with the moss? Lol! Other Aussies near me manage to grow moss easily, so I'm hoping once I get it on my bonsai it should be OK. Will have another go. Thank you so much!

[@katyb2793]

And yes and amen to less insects. It's been a real learning curve with our cool summers the last 3 years! I can't imagine if they had moss to live in.. maybe I should rethink this 🤔

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@katyb2793 in general the insects are ok if you only use chemical fertiliser. When you use organic ferts like BioGold, which is basically high quality chicken poop, you get insects laying their eggs in it, then a few weeks later the larvae are in the soil and moss... that's when the birds attack. Actually when it's cooler seems to be less of a problem, maybe worse in the hot weather.

[@katyb2793]

@@BlueSkyBonsai oh that's so interesting. I use a slow release fertiliser which I assume is chemical. The insects I have without moss are mainly aphids, spider mites, scale, caterpillars, loopers I think they were called, mealy bug (I think) and a couple of others going after my veggies. They usually get fried in our 40 degree Celsius days so when the weather is averaging low 20s they multiply like crazy and are a bit difficult to manage. We've had a La Nina the last 3 years, so hopefully next summer will be back to normal! Then I'll be spending all my time watering and melting 😅

[@edinborogh]

First!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You won that prize again! 😊👍