How to Grow Lichen Moss on Wood

Tree lichens range from flat varieties to feathery ones.

Lichens, which consist of fungi and algae or bacteria living together, don’t need much in the way of soil. Some varieties grow on rock or concrete while others prefer wood, often living trees. The wood lichens show the most variety, with some having a flat, scaly structure and others developing into feathery, plant-like organisms that superficially resemble moss. Feathery wood lichens give logs and trees a delicate appearance and make a garden look aged. Although they will establish themselves eventually if air pollution is low, you can speed up the process by collecting spores and providing an ideal habitat. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Lichen identification guide
• Knife
• Blender
• Yogurt
• Organic liquid fertilizer
• Paintbrush
• Stones
• Plant mister

Instructions

1. Examine the lichens on trees elsewhere on your property and identify them if possible. Identification helps you to decide if the lichen needs special care or a particular type of wood. It also lets you know if the lichen is endangered, in which case you should leave it alone. Narrow down the possibilities by comparing each lichen to images of lichens common in your area first, referring to rarer or out-of-state varieties if you don’t find a match.

2. Scrape off a little of the lichen you wish to cultivate with a sharp knife. Note its position, especially how much shade it receives and the type of tree.

3. Chop the entire lichen into small pieces and add to a blender together with a cup of yogurt and a pint or two of water. Drip in a little fertilizer.

4. Blend the mixture briefly. It should be full of spores while the yogurt and fertilizer provide nutrients.

5. Position a log in a location that receives much the same amount of sunlight as the original one. Put the log on loosely stacked stones so it doesn’t get too damp. Alternatively, select a suitable tree. Wood or a tree of the same species as the original increases your chance of success.

6. Paint the lichen mixture liberally onto the wood.

7. Mist the wood with rainwater once a day until the lichen is established; then, mist during dry spells. Wood lichens need some moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Always ask permission before removing lichen from somebody else’s property or a public space, such as a park.

• Only take a small amount of lichen at a time. Some lichens are endangered and your propagation may not be successful. Select a type that is growing abundantly.

• Don’t use pesticides or other commercial chemicals on or near your lichens. Lichens are sensitive to all forms of pollution and a pesticide is as likely to kill the lichen as it is any pests.

References

• Ohio State University: Lichens
• Royal Horticultural Society: Algae, Lichens and Moss on Trees and Shrubs
• The British Lichen Society: Lichens on Man-Made Surfaces -- Encouragement and Removal

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish