30 minute Semi Aquatic Tank project

[Kurt]

Naked salamander pictures..

Pervert.

[SludgeMunkey]

That is literally moss out of my backyard. I have a nice corner of the land that is completely covered in wild moss. It is actually not growing in these pictures. I harvest it during dry times of the year and keep it stored dry in the dark. Once I add it too an enclosure I mist it every few days and it grows! Moss needs to be wet to grow best. High humidity and dampness is it's friend. It grows very very slowly. To get it to grow on wood you need to have the wood waterlogged and just tie the moss on. Keep the wood and moss wet and in a few months it will start to creep out. After a year or two it looks completely natural.

[Kurt]

I remember seeing this thing on one of those gardening shows about "planting" moss. I remember them putting moss, buttermilk, and an other ingredient or two into a blender, then smearing the mixture on a rock. A few weeks later or so, they had moss growing on the rock. I would assume the same thing would work in the terrarium, but I would do it before adding the frogs. If you're interested in this, try googling it, as this is all I can remember.

[Tom Highum]

Ok I found How to Grow Moss for Your Garden | eHow.com so beer and sugar

[into]

Ok I found How to Grow Moss for Your Garden | eHow.com so beer and sugar

There you go Tom! Tell your parents you need some beer. You're trying to grow moss...

[Tom Highum]

My mom wouldn't care she knows I think it is disgusting, or so she thinks.

[Kurt]

While you're at it, ask if you can have some whiskey to wash the car with.

[Kurt]

I just read it and it says you can substitute buttermilk for the beer. I think Tom's real problem is going to be trying to convince mother to let him put moss in her blender.

[Tom Highum]

You nailed it. Yup I am kinda worried about that but last time was worse I kinda used it as a cement mixer. I doubt she will let me use the new one ever again. But my stepmom is clueless.

Wait whiskey for washing the car? My mom doesn't have any, how about vodka??

[Kurt]

Should work. You used her blender as a cement mixer? You'll be lucky if she lets you make mango smoothies in it.

[Tom Highum]

Yeah not my smartest moment. I make smoothies when she is not around. Ok does just any type of moss work?

[Kurt]

I would assume so.

[Tom Highum]

Do you need to pull up the whole moss including the roots and the dirt?

[Kurt]

Well maybe not the dirt. Moss, I find has very short roots, so pulling it up shouldn't be a problem. I can uproot it with my leaf blower.

[SludgeMunkey]

The moss in the blender method only works with moss that has spore stalks. Also, it stinks. The smell of rotting vegetation mixed with buttermilk is comparable to August roadkill. For that stinky mess to actually tun into moss you can expect to wait six months or more depending on species, humidity and lighting.

My method is simple: I take my dry, dormant moss and mist it heavily with water. Let it sit overnight. the next day, mist it again then dust the bottom heavily with Bisquick buttermilk baking mix. Call me crazy, but it works. I used this method for the Bombina orientalis enclosure I have posted here on the forums and quite a few others.

[Tom Highum]

Ok thanks. Oh and I have heard watering it with any type of beer (I am guessing frogs will like that) or butter milk also promotes growth.

[Kurt]

I don't think the frogs will take kindly to beer.

[Tom Highum]

Do you know any other way to promote moss growth?

[Kurt]

Other than what's already been discussed? No, not really.

[Tom Highum]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but would this work if i used 1/8 in thick plastic instead of plexi?