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

Liverwort

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
After all this wet weather, many containers in the shade have a layer of liverwort. Do I need to remove it?
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I would … it’ll prevent moisture penetrating the surface of the compost/soil. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It would depend on the plant. I rarely bother - most of my potted plants acquire moss etc, and not just at this time of year, but I usually leave it until I need to attend to the plant -potting on or topping up compost/mulch, dividing.
    If it's covering up perennials that could be affected by being blocked by anything soggy, I'd remove it. Anything woody and otherwise healthy will be fine. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If it prevents the moisture for now, I'll leave it and reconsider when the weather dries up. So long as it's not using up nutrients.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’ve seen it growing on almost bare concrete … don’t think nutrients are ‘it’s thing’ 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited 2 March
    No - they [liverworts] don't soak up any nutrients.

    Some mosses soak up moisture more readily, but I'm more than happy for them to do that!   ;)

    This is a useful source for all sorts of 'stuff' as well as liverworts etc
    https://www.naturespot.org.uk/gallery/liverworts
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited 2 March
    I love the names so far
    Pounce wort
    Creeping finger wort


    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I ca think of a couple of people that could be described as pounce worts....
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    A fresh layer of compost (call it mulch if you like) will solve the probelm.  Scrape it off and apply a new layer when it too begins to acquire more liverwort, moss or whatever.

    It's what I do to plants I am not repotting.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Sign In or Register to comment.