Decorative moss – care, price, installation

Reindeer moss is becoming more and more popular in Europe. And no wonder – it is an extremely effective decorative moss that works well in many arrangements, and is also easy to use. It fits perfectly with both austere, Scandinavian and rustic interiors. It will diversify the look of the kitchen or bathroom, and enliven the corridor. If you do not know it yet, check why it is worth ordering moss for your home.

What is reindeer moss?

Moss is actually mistakenly called moss because it belongs to the kingdom of fungi, not plants. For this reason, it is closer to lichens than mosses, but due to its characteristic appearance, it is colloquially called moss. Various terms are used for it, but the most common of them is “reindeer treat”. The name comes from the place where the moss occurs – it grows, among others in Scandinavia or Greenland, where it is one of the main foods for reindeer. Interestingly, moss is also found in Poland, but it is partially protected, so it cannot be picked. For this reason, the lichen used for decorative purposes comes mainly from Scandinavia.

Moss – how to care for it?

The biggest advantage of moss is that … it does not need to be cared for. Why? Before being sent to the customer, the lichen is impregnated. Thanks to this, it stops growing, so it does not need to be watered or fertilized. The moss will draw water from the air, so the only thing you need to consider before installing moss in your home is air humidity. The good news is that lichen likes the same humidity as humans, in the 40-60% range.

We do not have to worry about additional air humidification, although the behaviour of the scratch may be a signal for us that the air in our apartment is too dry. If the moss starts to dry out, invest in air humidifiers. It is worth knowing that the lichen does not need access to the sun either. For this reason, it will also work well as a decorative element in the bathroom or in the hallway with small windows or no windows at all.

Preserved moss – practical use

Mackerel can be used in many ways. Although the lichen itself is naturally dusty white, the producers dye it using natural ingredients, thanks to which they obtain a dozen or so colour versions. It is worth choosing shades that will match our interior. The energetic, bright moss of moss will liven up the interior a bit. Dark green will evoke associations with the forest, so it will be perfect for people who like to be in contact with nature. Green symbolizes the earth, hope, harmony, peace and tranquillity.

There is a reason why many people go on vacation to places away from civilization. Staying among nature relaxes you and allows you to really relax. For this reason, it is also worth having plants at home. It is easier to relax and calm down. However, not everyone can take care of them, which is why reindeer moss is perfect for people who do not have time to water or fertilize flowers. You can cover the entire wall with it.

Moss on the wall as an interior decoration

You can also cover a specific element with moss, for example, a panel between countertops and hanging cabinets in the kitchen. If you prefer smaller accessories, think about filling the frame with lichen. Moss fits perfectly with various textures; fits both modern and antiqued interiors. The lichen also looks great with additional illumination – the light emphasizes its colours, thanks to which even austere interiors will look extremely cosy. Moss can be freely trimmed to fill, for example, wooden letters, which we then put on the windowsill or on the table.

Decorative moss is also worth using in children’s rooms. It does not settle the dust, does not attract insects and microorganisms, and additionally absorbs toxins, thanks to which the air is cleaner. For this reason, lichen is ideal for allergy sufferers. Standard plants often cause allergies in the youngest (and not only), and reindeer scratching brings a bit of freshness to the room, but it is also safe for the immune system – the lichen is covered with a glycerin solution, which prevents it from spraying.

Decorative moss and the price. Is the cost of moss too high?

Often our customers wonder why grating is so expensive, and the panels are even more expensive. Where do these prices for moss come from? There are several factors that determine the price:

• In Poland, moss is under protection, so it must be imported from abroad, which is associated with transport costs.
• The cost of collecting, moss and the production of boxes and packaging.
• Payment for private forests where harvesting is possible.
• Colouring and moss preparation.
• Loading and transport.
• Goods storage costs.
• Standard handling, shipping and marketing costs.

For panels, there is a cost of panel size and moss consumption per kg. It is also necessary to add the cost of the moisture-resistant board and its cutting, moss glue and paying for workers whose job is to skillfully glue the moss to the board and cut it properly. This work is not demanding in terms of the necessary qualifications but requires a lot of experience.

How to choose a decorative moss in the right color?

First of all, it is worth remembering that the moss will not catch the pigment in every place in the same way, which has its advantage, because it looks very natural. However, we can deliberately experiment with different colors to achieve more interesting results. Combining two or three colors of moss on one surface looks great, although it is rather not recommended to mix too much when covering the entire wall. A colourful moss will look much better, for example in a frame or in several individual wall panels. If you want to cover a larger area with it, choose one, maximum two colors.

How much moss to order?

It all depends on what we want to fill with it. If we want to cover the wall, the easiest way is to order ready-made moss panels. However, if we want to cover smaller surfaces ourselves, then it is worth remembering that 7.5 kg of scratching is needed for 1 m2 (assuming that it is to be an evenly distributed, compact layer).