Moss and Palms

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Is moss good for palms? I found some moss growing in my A. Catechu. Is it harmful or is it helpful?

[realarch]

Moss growing on trees is just part of the ecosystem and will not harm the plant. Here in  East Hawaii with it’s warm, humid, and wet climate, moss covers everything. I mean everything. Some people don’t like the moss look, but on this side of the island trying to keep the palm trunks clean would be a continual and, most likely, losing battle. 

Tim

[Kim]

Reviving this old thread because I have SO much moss everywhere now. Today I was peeling back thick carpets of moss to sprinkle fertilizer around my palms. Palm trunks with thick moss on them have attracted (?) epiphytes such as the furry-foot "fern" that can strangle a palm, and Clusia rosea, the aggressive autograph tree, as well as wild orchid species that don't belong up in the crown of a palm . Okay, I'm not sure which arrives first, the moss or the epiphytes, but it seems far more prevalent than ever. 

Any fresh thoughts, experiences with moss? Curious to hear more.

[happypalms]

I have lots of pots in my nursery with moss on top of the soil. For me it is a good sign of a healthy microclimate. It doesn’t affect growth and for most palms it’s a good indicator of moisture at the right level. 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

@happypalms Ive never seen a baby staghorn until now, how cute!

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

@happypalms Ive never seen a baby staghorn until now, how cute!

Not too bad on the eye, all from a microscope spore! 

[Kim]

Richard, thanks for the photos -- I notice there is moss in the pots, but it's not adding a green fur coat to the seedlings, like it does in my garden. Seems that while you have moss, it's not "overkill" like it is here. We are having a very wet, very humid season right now. In past years, I don't recall the moss being quite so overwhelming. It has literally replaced the grass in many parts of the garden -- kind of nice walking on spongey moss, like in fairyland. But... getting up on the highest rung of a ladder to struggle with cutting a 4-foot coil of invading furry-footed fern from a palm trunk is probably hilarious to watch, but not much fun being the one doing it.

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, Kim said:

Richard, thanks for the photos -- I notice there is moss in the pots, but it's not adding a green fur coat to the seedlings, like it does in my garden. Seems that while you have moss, it's not "overkill" like it is here. We are having a very wet, very humid season right now. In past years, I don't recall the moss being quite so overwhelming. It has literally replaced the grass in many parts of the garden -- kind of nice walking on spongey moss, like in fairyland. But... getting up on the highest rung of a ladder to struggle with cutting a 4-foot coil of invading furry-footed fern from a palm trunk is probably hilarious to watch, but not much fun being the one doing it.

You’re welcome on the pics. It grows well on the sandstone rocks in my garden wherever I created shade. I would welcome the moss any day growing on my advanced palms in the garden a great indicator of the moisture levels and humidity. And ladders and gardeners are one hazard I try to avoid, the other day I was 5 meters up a ladder just for a handful of archontophoenix maxima seeds, not worth the risk I thought after, yer sure for Tahina seeds but archontophoenix.🏥

[Foggy Paul]

We get a ton of moss around here. I've been concerned at how it literally coats the caudices of our cycads. It doesn't really seem like a good thing, and growth on the plants is less than robust, but it also seems like trying to remove it might do more harm than good. This one isn't that bad--others are worse.

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, Foggy Paul said:

We get a ton of moss around here. I've been concerned at how it literally coats the caudices of our cycads. It doesn't really seem like a good thing, and growth on the plants is less than robust, but it also seems like trying to remove it might do more harm than good. This one isn't that bad--others are worse.

I don’t think the moss is causing it, it looks to wet and the moss is an indicator of its to wet, especially for cycads! 

[happypalms]

There moss on commercially grown blueberry plants. So it doesn’t seem to be an issue for this commercial nursery. And iam sure ifbit was an issue they would be doing something about it as these plants are tissue culture grown. So we are talking about big money in this investment!