To Shake or Not to Shake: Moss and Buttermilk

Photo by Andrea Bellamy at Heavy Petal

I recently answered some questions about adding sugar, buttermilk or beer to moss to encourage it to grow.  DON'T add these liquids to moss you will put in a terrarium or other enclosed growing environment.  The sugars involved will likely cause fungus or attract pests.

So where does this moss quasi-myth come from?  My best guess is the use of beer, buttermilk or sugar water to jumpstart the growth of moss in a shake or moss tea.  In this process you collect moss, blend or chop it up and mix with a sugary liquid to encourage the outdoor growth of moss, such as on a wall or between stones in a garden path.  The bits of moss regenerate and supposedly grow a nice even layer of new moss.

If you are interested in learning more about making and using a moss shake check out this excellent tutorial by Andrea Bellamy at Heavy Petal "Operation: Moss Graffiti."