Is Moss Good For Plants? 16 Benefits And Uses

Mosses are capable of controlling the temperature according to the environment. They act as both heating and cooling mediums for the soil in harmony with the necessities of the concerned surroundings.

In the scorching areas, mosses behave as an insulating medium protecting the roots of the plants from high temperatures and providing shade to them while in the polar regions, they prevent heat from seeping into the ground resulting in the slow melting phenomena to keep the region cooler.

Mosses are considered nature's first line of defense against soil erosion. Introducing themselves as a protective blanket for the ground, they can absorb and retain water effectively. Their ability to hold the soil particles firmly even during high water currents prevents the soil from severe erosion.

Planting mosses in highly vulnerable areas like steep slopes, barren and open fields, and human-hampered erosion-prone areas can significantly minimize the risk of landslides and ecosystem casualties.

Mosses are praised for their potential to capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere fighting against climate change. The mosses worldwide have been making significant contributions to mitigate global greenhouse emissions.

A recent study published in Nature Geoscience found that mosses support 6.43 billion metric tons more carbon in the soil layer than the bare soil does. This suggests that not only larger plants but also tiny vegetation like moss have been playing a crucial in capturing carbon.

Growing moss in your outdoor space would prevent the weeds from taking over the garden. Weeds often hinder the growth of plants which needs constant attention for elimination and they have always been considered an enemy, reducing crop production.

Moss grows heavily and they can spread over the ground very quickly intercepting the root development of the weeds around your garden. This will ensure proper management saving your time, money, and effort on weeding your space.

Just like the sponge, moss can hold water helping your garden retain the required moisture and preventing the water from evaporating quickly. This will help the plants in your garden take advantage of moist soil throughout their growing period.

Retaining large amounts of water for prolonged periods, moss enhances the health and vitality of the plants by providing them with water during the crucial phase of droughts reducing the need for frequent watering once the mosses are established.

Mosses provide habitats for a diverse range of microorganisms including small invertebrates and insects. It is responsible for offering shelter and food for different wildlife while contributing to the overall biodiversity of forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems.

It also supports providing nesting materials for the birds while maintaining mutualistic relationships between fungi and bacteria. As a whole, it attracts other wildlife that are dependent on the insects and microorganisms that are found in the mosses creating ecological balance.

While holding water for longer periods, mosses can purify the water by eliminating the pollutants and contaminants serving as a natural water filter. They absorb unwanted sediments, heavy metals, and debris from the water and release purified water back into the atmosphere.

This peculiar property of moss helps improve the quality of water in the streams and ponds enhancing aquatic habitats. Considering this, people have been establishing artificial setups for water treatment without the use of harmful chemicals.

Mosses are used as green roofs and walls as a potential way to reduce the effects of climate change in urban areas serving as a green infrastructure. Having the same benefits as other types of green roofs, they are low maintenance and extremely light weighted adaptation.

They do not require fertilization and have the potential for large amounts of water absorption which makes them ideal for urban green infrastructure with low load capacity, providing multiple benefits to the surroundings.

Unlike other plants and grasses, mosses do not require any additional care and attention once established. They do not seek any fertilizer and do not expect regular mowing and maintenance.

Without having any true roots, they can thrive in an environment with no soil and heavy foot traffic. Even in the absence of proper sunlight, this unique attribute possessing plants can survive and flourish while supporting other aspects of the environment as well.

Moss is considered one of the best nature's air filters which are capable of cleaning the atmospheric air we breathe. They have an inbuilt ability to absorb and metabolize specks of dust and debris from the atmosphere while converting the particles into useful natural biomass.

Globally, people have been incorporating moss into technology such as moss filters and moss mats with dedicated sensors which are found to clean about 80% of fine dust and particles from the air offering clean breathable air.

Mosses help in the regulation of humidity levels. They release moisture into the air through the process known as transpiration, which simply means to remove the excess water from the body of the plant.

Especially in the dry regions, mosses with their natural humidification process help maintain suitable humidity levels for humans as well as plants' comfort. Along with the improvement in respiratory health, mosses have been helping plants thrive in their natural habitats.

The relationship between mosses and humans dates back to the centuries. Throughout history, people have benefited from them in almost every aspect of their lives, more particularly in fighting against diseases.

Several properties of mosses including their antimicrobial activities against bacteria are widely popular as a remedy for different diseases such as acne, hemorrhoids, and skin diseases among traditional Chinese, American, and European medicinal approaches.

It has been found that people love to stroll around moss-covered environments. This might be because the surroundings filled with mosses are soothing, calm, and stress-free. If you haven't tried it then make it your go-to list and experience the magic.

The purified air makes our breathing easy while improving our respiratory health and a touch of calmness in the realm of moss-filled surroundings acts as a medium to release the stress more significantly.

Simplicity is far more beautiful than intricacy. This perfectly aligns with moss gardening. If you haven't surrendered to the enchanting lush green carpets that mosses form on top of the rocks, barks of trees, and forest floors, then you have missed something in your life, believe me.

This eco-friendly and low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawns has been gaining a lot of appreciation among gardeners and households for not only the aesthetic appeal but also several other benefits to the surroundings.

Mosses are found to benefit soil in many ways. They help to increase nutrient cycling and decomposition by breaking down the dead organic matter much faster than they do in the bare soil while also reducing the number of harmful pathogens on it.

They are also responsible for changing soil temperature and moisture while affecting the surface microclimates. Many researchers have found that mosses are often the first organisms to grow in disturbed natural areas helping to restore the soil and life.

Decorating with moss is the latest global trend and is widely popular among green spaces. It has become a source of tranquility and calmness everywhere regardless of homes and offices.

Having several healing properties like increasing mood and productivity, optimizing concentration and memory, and reducing stress and fatigue while providing purified air, mosses as a decorative element is proving to be an ideal component among decorators.

There are more than 12,000 species of mosses identified around the world. Having a very crucial role in the natural ecosystem balancing the entire ecology and acting as a true warrior and protector of nature, mosses are grown wildly as well as cultivated as per the preferences.

Here, we present some of the most popular mosses around the world for your information that has been flourishing in the wild, in gardens, or in your rooms.

Sheet Moss (Hypnum Curvifolium)

It is popular among gardeners as an alternative to the traditional grass gardens. Sheet moss offers a lush, green moss lawn that is capable of withstanding foot traffic and is favored by most people these days to stroll around.

These types of moss are commonly found in nature covering a wide area of forest floors, tree barks, and rocks, and are distributed across the world including North America, Europe, Asia, and some parts of Africa.

American Tree Moss (Climacium Americanum)

Native to North America, American tree moss is commonly found in woodlands, rocky grounds, riverbanks, and along streams as well. They resemble tiny Christmas trees in a bundle if observed at one glance.

These mosses are found growing widely across eastern Canada and the eastern US with a densely branched habit, having primary stems brown while secondary being red once established.

Carpet Moss (Hypnum Cupressiforme)

After sheet moss, carpet moss comes second as the most favored green moss garden across the world. It is mostly found on forest floors, tree barks, and on top of rocks.

It grows all over North America and in most parts of Asia, and Europe with its thick lush green carpet attracting a wide mass of people around the globe.

Spoon Leaved Moss (Bryoandersonia Illecebra)

They are commonly found in the US and only in one region, Ontario (Canada) with its cushioned foliage and dense blanket. Their long stems are hidden completely by the tightly packed leaves.

Growing up to 2 inches long, Spoon-leaved moss has overlapping leaves that seem as if juicy caterpillars are sticking all over the edges. They have longer life expectancy in their natural habitats.

Mood Moss (Dicranum Scoparium)

They are soft and lush beds distributed across North America and throughout Europe and some parts of Asia like Japan and Korea. Widely popular for its dense and soft appearance, they are ideal for visual appeal.

Although not completely favored for the moss garden lawn, Mood moss is appreciated for its thick, club-shaped soft mat that appears to be feathery which is very attractive for aesthetic purposes.

Pincushion Moss (Leucobryum Glaucum)

Also called Cushion moss because of its cushion-like patterns, Pincushion moss is highly praised for its bright green color and distinctive appearance. They are widely distributed in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

This type of moss is highly appealing and attracts moss gardeners from all around the world. If you haven't tried it then you wouldn't want to miss touching their rounded and super soft tufts.

Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum Platyphyllum)

These mosses are commonly used for horticulture applications and are also known as Spongy moss. More popular for its good adaption to retain water, Sphagnum moss is found to be distributed all around the world including temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Depending on the environment, these mosses can change their color from bright green to yellowish-green and are widely distributed across wetlands and marshes around the world. 

Here are some of the traditional as well as commercial uses of mosses that have been known to the world:

• North American Tribes, Sami people, and other circumpolar people used mosses for bedding which was one of the first traditional uses of Moss.
• Mosses have been used as insulators for residential and clothing purposes, log cabins, and essentials like boots and gloves.
• They have been used for a variety of medicinal and culinary purposes for centuries such as wound dressing, diapers, and food storage baskets.
• These days, mosses are more commonly commercialized as florist trade and for home decorations.
• Sphagnum moss is dried out and is widely used in nurseries and horticulture as a plant-growing medium.
• During World War I, Sphagnum mosses were used to dress the soldiers' wounds because of their quick ability to absorb, retain, and distribute the liquids. They are cooler, softer, and less irritating as well.
• Common water moss was traditionally used as a fire extinguisher in the rural United Kingdom.