How To Use Spanish Moss in Your Container Gardens

There are many ways to make your container garden look interesting and beautiful, and one way is to use Spanish Moss. Despite its name, Spanish Moss does not belong to the moss nor to the lichen family, and is actually an air plant. It is a flowering plant, but its flowers are very tiny to the point of being inconspicuous. It can absorb and retain moisture on its own, so it is not high-maintenance for sure. It can be used to complement plants both outdoors and indoors. 

Your container gardens tend to look bare if they contain just the plants and the soil, especially if the plants are spaced far away from one another. Spanish Moss can be used to cover the bare parts and to create a smooth, carpeted look. To do this, simply tuck the moss around the plants. Avoid leaving uncovered spaces, so that the carpeted look will not seem artificial. 

If your container has unfinished edges or does not have attractive rims, the Spanish Moss can even be used to improve its appearance. Cover these unattractive parts with Spanish Moss and you'll instantly have a cleaner, more polished look. Make sure that the Spanish Moss you use for your container gardens is free of insects and pests, which will surely prey upon your plants. An effective way of making sure that it does not contain insects anymore is to dry it. Spanish Moss, which has already been dried and ready to use is now commercially-available. However, some people opt to get the Spanish Moss themselves and they dry it with their microwave ovens for several minutes until it is completely dry. You can also hang it on your clothesline for drying. 

Aside from giving your container garden a prettier appearance, Spanish Moss serves a more practical purpose – it helps retain moisture in the soil. Make sure, though, that there is enough space from the moss-covered soil to the rim of the container. This is to avoid water from overflowing whenever you water your garden. In connection with this, it is suggested that you use a spraying system when watering your garden. As the Spanish Moss helps retain moisture, there is no need for a lot of watering, there should just be enough water sprayed on to the garden to maintain moisture. Make sure however, that it remains moist, because it changes color when it needs water.

You can be more creative with your container gardens by creating miniature landscapes with Spanish Moss. You can use small rocks and stones as foundations to make land formations such as hills and mountains. To make them more believable, cover them with Spanish Moss, and you will have your own mini-forest or valley right inside your home.