NEHERP Moss Care
Everything you need to know to grow our moss successfully in a live vivarium.
Acclimation
As with any vivarium plant, the acclimation period is absolutely critical for long-term success. Once acclimated, the moss will better tolerate contact with vivarium inhabitants, and will begin to grow outward & color up to it's lush green mature state. We suggest misting the moss at least twice per day for the first 3 weeks it's in the new environment, with three (or more) misting sessions being truly ideal. So long as the moss is kept well lit, humid, and well misted, it should acclimate and begin to visually grow greener within 2-3 weeks of introduction. We can't stress the importance of initial acclimation enough, since if it's allowed to dry out for any extended period of time before it's acclimated, the moss may not recover easily. For a whole lot more information on what to expect with freshly planted vivariums, check out our Vivarium Construction 102 guide.
Vivarium Substrate
Appropriate vivarium substrate choice is critical for long-term viability of plants within an enclosure. We suggest using ABG substrate, NEHERP substrate, or something similar for best results. Both NEHERP & ABG substrates are well-proven, excellent choices that hold up long term in very humid environments. Things like drainage, aeration, pH balance, resistance to breaking down, and the ability to support microfauna should all be considered when choosing a vivarium substrate. (Each of those points can and will affect plants!) Straight coconut fiber, peat moss, or similar non-appropriate substrates will not sustain moss growth. Check out our Vivarium Construction 101 guide for lots more info on this subject!Lighting
To put it simply, our moss will do just fine with bright fluorescent or LED bulbs in the 5000-6700K (kelvin) range, illuminated for 12 hours daily. Lights should be timed for about 12 hours on & 12 hours off for the best plant growth & a healthy day/night cycle for the inhabitants residing in the vivarium. We have vivarium lighting kits available, if you are looking for a proven and inexpensive solution. Without appropriate lighting, our moss will be significantly more challenging to grow, and may require an extended acclimation period. Our LED solutions grow moss best, but fluorescent bulbs work just fine with a slightly longer acclimation time. For more detailed advice on what type of lighting would be recommended for a specific enclosure size, simply select your enclosure on our Vivarium Lighting Kits page. For more detailed info on vivarium lighting, visit Vivarium Lighting 101.
Planting / Mounting Moss
Our moss is processed prior to us shipping it out, so in this specific case, plant processing is not necessary. The moss can be placed directly into the vivarium without issue. If planting it terrestrially on ABG, NEHERP, or similar vivarium substrate, be sure to gently rub it into the soil to ensure the below root systems will be able to absorb water as necessary. (Do not press down hard, as doing so will compress the substrate, which isn't ideal!) If mounting it epiphytically, it can be wrapped around a ball of moist sphagnum to ensure it has a better chance of not drying out between misting sessions. If you are utilizing an automated misting system in your vivarium, you can skip the sphagnum and mount it bare on any appropriate surface. Common methods of mounting plants include florist wire, orchid monofilament line, and even toothpicks. (Use appropriate caution with each mounting method to ensure there's no tangle-risk, or pointed-edge-risk!) Our moss is also an appropriate choice for planting near a water feature, when done properly. In that case, allow some space between the water & moss, to allow it the chance to grow-in on it's own while acclimating to it's very moist surroundings.NEHERP Live Moss
Located In: Live Moss
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Dormancy Period
Unlike most temperate moss species, our moss does not require any kind of dormancy period. We've had single portions of moss growing in vivariums for 5+ years now with no issues other than having to trim it back occasionally from over-growth.General Growth Conditions
Ideal conditions for the moss are 70%+ relative humidity, with temperatures ranging anywhere from 60F-90F. While very tolerant of wide temperature swings, it is not tolerant of low humidity, and the substrate it's planted or mounted on must never be allowed to dry out for long-term success. If the moss dries out for longer than a few days, there's a fair chance it will not reanimate, so keeping it moist is critical. Frequent misting, appropriate substrate choice, high humidity, and plenty of light will make for perfect growth conditions.A Word on Processing
If you aren't buying your moss from us (which is pre-processed prior to shipping) please process your moss along side the rest of your plants. We've got a plant processing guide available, if you are unfamiliar with processing plants. This is especially important if you are gathering moss from outside! For reference, using "backyard moss" is usually not the best choice, since it can often require a dormancy period to thrive in vivarium conditions long term.
If you have any questions at all about the info in this article, don't hesitate to contact us. We're happy to help!NEHERP Live Moss
Located In: Live Moss