How to Add Life to a Room With Living Moss Wall Art

If you're a fan of houseplants, but can't seem to keep them alive, consider adding living moss wall art to brighten up your space. We'll explain how they work.

Living moss wall art can add a wow factor to any room and brighten up a space, but does require a fair amount of maintenance in order to thrive. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance solution, try caring for air plants instead. 

Living vs. Preserved Moss Walls

A living moss wall is a wall that is covered in live moss, though it can also be combined with other plants. You can also choose to have living moss wall art instead if you don’t have the space available for a full moss wall. Due to the fact that moss is alive, it needs access to natural light and requires regular maintenance in terms of misting and watering. It’s also worth noting that living moss walls and wall art can hold up to 10 times their weight in moisture and can live for up to 15 years, so choosing the right location is very important. The benefits of living moss walls include: 

• Stabilized moisture levels: Moss absorbs moisture when humidity levels are high, and releases it when humidity levels are low. This also helps to reduce energy costs. 
• Noise reduction: Most can help dampen sounds and soften background noise. 
• Improved air quality: Live moss harvests C0₂ and other air pollutants. 
• Improved well-being: Things like horticultural therapy and nature therapy are very much in vogue because spending time with plants is good for our mental well-being. 

A preserved moss wall is real moss that has been preserved and dyed to retain its natural green color, and can be kept for years with very little maintenance. It only requires light dusting, and preserved moss can be dyed any shade of color you like, so you can personalize it.

Different Types of Moss

There are over 12,000 species of moss, but not all of them are suitable for a living moss wall. The most popular types of moss to use in this way include: 

• Broom fork moss
• Fern Moss
• Mood moss
• Pillow Moss
• Reindeer Moss 
• Sheet moss

How to Make Living Moss Wall Art

Live moss anchors itself to solid structures, so feel free to get creative. You can go to the hardware store and grab supplies for a custom frame, or simply use any chunky picture frame you have at home — provided it has a plywood backing. Then you’ll want to follow these steps to make living moss wall art: 

1. Plan your design: Have a rough idea of how you want your moss wall art to look before you start. 
2. Gather your materials: Have your moss, twigs, pine cones and other accessories ready. 
3. Arrange the moss according to your design. 
4. Glue everything in place: Using floral glue, adhere your moss to the backing of the frame. Using regular hot glue will kill the moss. 
5. Allow your design to set for approximately 24 hours. 
6. Test your living moss wall art by holding it up to make sure none of the elements fall off. If they do, try to re-glue them, and test again before hanging. 

Read more: 

• The 9 Best Plants to Grow in Jars
• 6 Ways to Water Plants While Away On Vacation: How-To + Tips
• Repotting Spider Plants: Step by Step Guide

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Tags: Green Living Guide How-To's Indoors Plants