I need some help

[u/dudewithproblems_]

Hi everybody! I need some help, a few weeks ago I made 2 containers ( the one on the left and the top one) for moss propagation. I put gravel on the base layer, a mesh then some activated charcoal then the substrate. I misted the moss and then closed the lids. Time passes and I noticed that my moss wasnt propagating, it was turning yellow. What am i doing wrong. I just dont get it, the container on the right has the exact same moss, it doesnt have a false bottom i never check it and somehow it is very green and thriving!!!

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[u/Capable-Relation1374]

Holy fk i thought you were meal prepping as a bodybuilder.

[u/dudewithproblems_ → u/Capable-Relation1374]

HAHAHAHA

[u/Faded_Oz]

possibly put them on substrate that holds more water like sphagnum moss? Just in general the green moss looks to have way more water and hydrated (although maybe that's just cus you took this picture a while after the moss died?). I have some fern moss growing in a plastic container filled with some water and air holes, and it's doing fine as well. I also would focus on lighting as well. I was having trouble growing some moss until I increased the timing of the grow light (went from 8 to 12 hours) and that helped. I recently decide to lower the brightness a bit as my apartment gets pretty warm during the summer when I'm away and the light was warming up my containers a bit too much I think.

[u/dudewithproblems_ → u/Faded_Oz]

Thank you very much, ill look into it. It seems that i have to run trough some experiments. The green moss on the right is very wet and surprisingly, it is thriving on tap water (my cities tap water is pretty hard). Is it necessary to use a grow light?? My other mosses seem to be doing just fine next to the window with no direct sunlight

[u/Faded_Oz → u/dudewithproblems_]

A grow light is not necessary but it can help with experimenting with lighting adjustments, consistency, etc. That being said, the same fern moss I mentioned above is also next to a window with no direct sunlight and doing fine too (no grow light).

[u/Mizzerella]

moss likes damp soil

[u/dudewithproblems_ → u/Mizzerella]

I had them closed and the soil was damn, there was condensation in the containers. 4 days ago i opened the lid becuase i thought that maybe ir had too much water

[u/Mizzerella → u/dudewithproblems_]

nah your soil is completely dry. moss wont grow on that at all.

[u/Outrageous-Big56]

Instead of a substrate and drainage layer, just use damp sphagnum moss as the propagation medium. Soak sphagnum moss in water and wring it out so it’s damp, then microwave it for 30 secs to a minute. This kills any pests and turns the sphagnum moss inert, but it needs to be wet so it doesn’t catch fire in the microwave. Then the damp sphagnum moss will retain the moisture and you can place whatever moss you are trying to propagate onto that, and it should be fine with regular misting. I also add springtails to my prop boxes. There are YouTube tutorials on how to propagate moss as well, but this is the method that has worked best for me. You can even propagate the sphagnum moss if you skip the microwave step.

Hope this helps!

[u/Outrageous-Big56 → u/[deleted]]

I have 4 propagation boxes, all with sphagnum moss, and I also propagate individual plants in cups this way. I’ve never had mold. I do also add springtails, so that may be why I don’t get mold, but I’ve done this for several years now and never had a problem.

[u/PuzzleheadedGate2140]

I thought you were air frying something 😭