In a message dated 6/6/2005 2:56:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cguffey [at] GMAIL.COM writes:

> I had been fertilizing it every 2 weeks for the past 2 months. On the
> base of the tree some green moss has started growing. Is this normal? I
> was assuming that is why it is called 'blue moss'?
>

The moss has nothing to do with the name of the tree, which is based
on the color and texture of the leaves.
The moss could be OK or it could be a sign of too much water. The
presence of moss doesn't mean the tree is healthy, but it might mean it is being
overwatered.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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aNOTHER COMMON NAME OF THIS TREE IS THE BOULEVARD CYPRESS I i DO NOT RECOMMEND TRYING TO DRIVE OVER IT

SteveW
Long Island NY


-----Original Message-----
From: Billy M. Rhodes <GOPHERHILL [at] AOL.COM>
To: BONSAI [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Sent: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 15:50:02 EDT
Subject: Re: [IBC] blue moss cyprus - need advice


In a message dated 6/6/2005 2:56:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cguffey [at] GMAIL.COM writes:

> I had been fertilizing it every 2 weeks for the past 2 months. On the
> base of the tree some green moss has started growing. Is this normal? I
> was assuming that is why it is called 'blue moss'?
>

The moss has nothing to do with the name of the tree, which is based
on the color and texture of the leaves.
The moss could be OK or it could be a sign of too much water. The
presence of moss doesn't mean the tree is healthy, but it might mean it is being

overwatered.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************************ ********************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************************ ********************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

************************************************************ ********************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************************ ********************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Well some good news, the brown leaves were not brittle ... I think by
tonight it will be dry enough to check the roots ...

So should I remove the moss? or just leave it? the moss hadn't been
growing until I started fertilizing.

The plant only cost me $20, I don't want to return it, I want to try
and save it ... plsu the I don't think the bonsai cart is there any
more ... even if I could return they'd likely just trash it ... it's
not a matter of money, as corny as it sounds I want to save the tree
....

On Jun 7, 2005, at 8:47 AM, chris wrote:

> Well some good news, the brown leaves were not brittle ... I think by
> tonight it will be dry enough to check the roots ...
>
> So should I remove the moss? or just leave it? the moss hadn't been
> growing until I started fertilizing.
>
> The plant only cost me $20, I don't want to return it, I want to try
> and save it ... plsu the I don't think the bonsai cart is there any
> more ... even if I could return they'd likely just trash it ... it's
> not a matter of money, as corny as it sounds I want to save the tree
> ...
>

If it were me I 'd try returning it. Don't let the SOB get away with
selling garbage!

Craig Cowing

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One of the great experiences of my life was learning bryology from Dr.
Howard Crum of the University of Michigan. One day when our class was
in the field with him, I somehow broke his glasses. You'd think that
would end the field trip, but Dr. Crum knew mosses so well that he
could tell one species from another just from the color and where it
was growing.

Which is a long way of saying: there are thousands of species of
mosses, and they have different moisture requirements. Some grow in
very dry, hot environments (on rocks or tree trunks) and others need
quite soggy habitats (some only grow in streams). There are only two
mosses commonly seen in bonsai pots (unless someone introduces one
intentionally): Bryum argentium, the "sidewalk moss" and Funaria
hygrometrica. Both of these favor dryish (for a moss) disturbed
environments; Funaria is one of the first mosses to come back after a
forest fire. But dryish for Funaria may be too wet for a conifer.
Bryum can be identified by its silvery-grey color; it gets its common
name because it likes to grow in sidewalk cracks (and on roofs). I
don't worry about over-wetness when I see either of these in my outdoor
pots (I would if they were in my indoor pots); I worry that they impede
drainage; instead of roots they have fine filaments that clog up soil
pores. I always pull out most of a moss colony, and leave a few
clumps.

Nina.

Can I tell another Dr. Crum story? Once he was driving and saw what
looked like interesting lichens on a tree in someone's yard. So he
pulled over, pulled out his hand-lens, and began to examine the lichen
at eye-level. A passing car slowed, then the driver yelled "IT'S A
TREE!"

chris wrote:

> So should I remove the moss? or just leave it? the moss hadn't been
> growing until I started fertilizing.

That is pretty funny actually ...
The moss is green, looks like regular moss to me, I'll pull it out.

Another question, should I trim any of the dead leaves off?
Anytime you see a bonsai on TV someone is always trimming it ...