Hello everyone, welcome to DVYT.COM.
Today I’m going to show you a moss soil formula used by Japanese moss enthusiasts. I’ll also share various soil treatment methods. This particular soil mix is especially suitable for growing moss in glass containers or sealed containers.
Basic Ingredients
1.Akadama Soil
First, I use small-grain Akadama soil. Akadama soil contains no nutrients — and this is very important. For the base soil in moss glass containers, the most important thing is to use soil with as little organic matter as possible. Using nutrient-rich soil for moss in a sealed container will easily lead to mold or algae growth. That’s why I think Akadama soil is the most commonly used base material. Try to use small-particle Akadama soil whenever possible.
2.Vermiculite
Next is a material called vermiculite. Vermiculite is a metamorphic rock mainly formed when clay minerals are subjected to high temperature and high pressure. In our community soil mixes, vermiculite is often used as a soil conditioner. It can improve aeration, provide nutrients needed by plants, and help the soil retain moisture. Because it is formed under high heat, vermiculite is relatively clean, so I recommend using it.
3.Peat Soil
Next is peat soil, which is the only organic material in this formula. Since peat soil is formed from sediment, bacteria have a hard time growing in it. Adding peat soil to the mix also acts as a binder, allowing us to create landscaping shapes such as hills and slopes more easily.
4.Rice Husk Charcoal
The last ingredient is rice husk charcoal. It helps prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, which is exactly why we add it. For the top layer of our mix, we cover it with Fuji sand.
Mixing Ratio
Akadama Soil – 1 cup
Vermiculite – 1 cup
Peat Soil – 0.2 cup
Rice Husk Charcoal – 0.2 cup
Key Steps
When using Akadama soil, be aware of the dust. The photo above shows the type of Akadama soil we use.
In the next photo, you can see regular Akadama soil — it’s easy to spot the dust. That’s why we always wash Akadama soil before using it.
To wash Akadama soil, you only need a vegetable washing basin and non-woven fabric.
I place the non-woven fabric over a strainer, then put the Akadama soil inside.
Rinse it with tap water until it is clean.
This is what it looks like after washing — much cleaner, and the water is much clearer.
Washing complete
Once washing is complete, I usually dry the Akadama soil in the sun, then store it in a clean jar until use.
Finally, mix the prepared Akadama soil, vermiculite, peat soil, and rice husk charcoal according to the formula above.
Finished Product
This is the mixed moss soil.
Do a water retention test, and here I want to remind you — always use purified water.
And that’s the final moss soil product.
Comments抢沙发