How to Grow Moss with Buttermilk

Green moss brightens shady areas.

Growing moss on surfaces such as rocks, statuary or the ground lends a whimsical look to otherwise barren shade areas. The acidic nature of buttermilk provides an ideal medium for growing moss in the garden and helps bind it to the surface during growth.

Things You'll Need

• Moss
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup water
• Blender
• Paint brush
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Peel a piece of existing moss the size of your hand off the ground. Brush as much dirt as possible off the back of the moss with your fingers.

2. Place the moss in a blender with 1 cup of buttermilk, 1/2 tsp. of white sugar, and 1 cup of water. Pulse the mixture until it resembles creamy soup.

3. Pour the mixture evenly over the area where moss is desired. If growing moss on statuary or other hard surfaces with vertical faces use a clean paint brush to paint the mixture on.

4. Spray the mixture daily with a spray bottle of water or a garden hose set to mist until a carpet of moss has established.

Tips & Warnings

• Spores can be purchased online if you do not have access to established moss.

References

• Henderson County Master Gardener: The Inside Dirt