Using Spanish Moss in a Container Garden

Adding Spanish moss to your container garden can help to dress it up and make it more interesting to look at while at the same time helping your plants to retain moisture.

Part of the problem with container gardens is that because the soil isn't very deep they have a tendency to dry out quickly - especially if they are placed in the hot summer sun. Mulching around your plants can help to keep the moisture from evaporating and as a result can keep your plants from getting too dry.

While there are many different mulches that you could choose from, one of the most aesthetically pleasing is Spanish moss. Despite its name, Spanish moss is not actually moss at all. Instead it is what is known as an "air plant" and grows down from the branches of trees without needing soil.

Thousands of tons of Spanish moss are harvested each year and typically wind up being used for arts and crafts. Many times artificial topiaries or plants will have some stuffed into the pot to hide the soil and the base of the fake plant.

What many people don't realize, though, is that Spanish moss can be wonderful mulch for living plants in container gardens as well. To mulch your container garden with Spanish moss, simply pick up a bag of it from your local craft store and gently tuck it around the base of your plants, taking care to cover the soil. When you water your plants the blanket of Spanish moss will help the water keep from evaporating so that your plants can get enough moisture even on the hottest of days.

It can also be useful if you have an unattractive container or if the top lip or rim of your container is broken. Simply carpet the soil with Spanish moss and hang a little over the edge of the container for a soft, natural look.

All in all, adding this unique plant to your container gardens is a great way to make them prettier while at the same time allowing you cut back on the amount of watering that you have to do. Most hobby or craft stores sell Spanish moss in their floral section. The nice thing about buying commercial Spanish moss is that it is already dry and free of pests.

If you use live Spanish moss instead, be sure to dry it thoroughly before adding it to your container garden to avoid introducing any bugs or pest to your plants.