Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Moss growing on pots bad?

davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
in Problem solving
We've moss growing already on our big pots with small trees in. 

Is this a bad sign that the soils not good? 

The pots are on slate and feet so I know there draining they do only have 1 hole at the bottom. There a mixture of John innes 3 and compost. 

They are however sheltered from the sun against the fence so that won't help. 


Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I find that a layer of gravel on top of the compost stops this. Like a light mulch.
  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    edited August 2022
    If the trees are healthy and if the soil doesn't smell bad (like rotten eggs) then the moss on the soil surface is doing no harm and is a sign that you have been diligent with the watering.

    Just make sure that the pots continue to drain properly.

    For established trees which are not in flower or bearing fruit, it is better to cycle them between deep watering and drought instead of keeping them constantly moist. The visual appearance of the leaves will tell you how long to leave them between deep waterings.

    Leaves will turn brown at the outer edges if left dry for too long but as long as the trees  do not die then they will become more resilient.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2022
    Are your trees shade tolerant or would they be better in a sunny position?  Sun loving trees will actively take up more water as they grow, leaving less moisture in your pots to attract moss.  Also, if your trees are young, with small root systems, the pots may be too big for them at this stage and they could start to suffer from over watering symptoms.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    Plantminded said:
    Are your trees shade tolerant or would they be better in a sunny position?  Sun loving trees will actively take up more water as they grow, leaving less moisture in your pots to attract moss.  Also, if your trees are young, with small root systems, the pots may be too big for them at this stage and they could start to suffer from over watering symptoms.
    It's a red Robin and a small cherry tree we moved them into bigger pots at the start of the year. 

    We can't move them due to the size of the garden we have limited space to work with, the trees sit over the fence so get plenty of sun. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    That sounds fine.  I’d just remove the top couple of cm of compost along with the moss, replace with the same compost you have used and top your pots with a mulch, as advised above, using horticultural grit, gravel or decorative pebbles.

    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't be too worried about that either. Doing as @Plantminded suggests re replacing some of the top layer of soil will be good, as it keeps the soil refreshed if the trees are in pots long term, and a little layer of gravel to help prevent too much moss appearing is also useful, although moss can still appear on that if conditions are right for it. Just pick it off when you see it.
    Moss on the surface is usually because of shade and moisture, because that's what it likes. As long as the soil isn't waterlogged, and any excess is draining away, it won't cause any major problem.
    The tree canopies will create shade even if the trees are in a sunnier site, but they also help prevent the soil drying out too quickly, which is always helpful through summer if you're in one of the very dry parts of the UK.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    FYI, 

    moss is actually a desirable top dressing in bonsai, to the point where practitioners will scrape it off from riverside rocks and from paving for their potted trees.

    Moss prevents muddy water splashes, and will also act like a mulch in drought conditions.

    Like I said before, if the trees are healthy and the pots are draining properly then the moss is doing no harm.


Sign In or Register to comment.