About 2 months ago I planted Irish and Scottish moss between some flagstone. I used a tree and shrub planting soil mix. I watered the area every day for about 3 weeks and they all seemed to do great; filling in and flowering. Last week they started to brown in the center. The temps were in the mid 90's. I have started to mist them whenever i can. Is this normal and will they recover?

I lost my Scotch moss this year to the heat (and lack of rain) but they had the brown centers last year and recovered.

It seems the heat and lack of rain is taking a toil on everything these days, so that may be the problem.

Personally, I've never grown any of the mosses but from what I remember in my horticulture class is that most mosses will not do well in full sun and prefer a more shaded area. They need humidity and moisture, and they like soil that is acidic, but I can't remember the pH, sorry!

I found a website called "moss acres" that had good info;you're right patches1414 they recommend an acidic ph 5.0-6.0. I'm not sure what my soil is in that area. The nursery I bought the moss at said full sun exposure and again initially the plants took off;but I agree that the severity of the heat is affecting everything.

Thanks a bunch!

You know, I used to go strictly by what they said about exposure (sun, partial shade, shade) but I've found that it doesn't always hold true and can vary a little bit with some plants tolerating more sun or shade.

By the way, my name is Patti and it's on my signature button with the picture of my kitty.

Scotch and Irish mosses are NOT "true" mosses so they do not need to be in the shade. I have been growing them for years at other houses I owned and they always suffer in the summer. I usually just replant the parts that don't make it and eventually it will all fill in. Mine is doing the same thing and I was REALLY watering it..I think it just the heat stress like everything else! GOOD LUCK!

I loves the kitty!

Glad to be of help Patti. I agree with the both of you in that each plant is going to respond a little differently according to it's environment and current atmospheric conditions. I think these guys will do well once established and under normal growing conditions.Thanks for the input!

Pictures of the moss planting area

sun exposure is listed generally and you must adapt to your part of the world.

a plant may take full sun connecticut, partial shade in virginia, and need full shade to survive in texas.

So you would think that a plant bought at a local nursery would state the sun exposure level for this plant at this local area. Right?

Merrill, I've found that pretty much to be true since they usually only carry the plants which will succeed in that particular area, otherwise their customers will not be satisfied, so that's not very good for business!

You're right Patti When I was shopping at this nursery all of the employees pointed me to this one perennial expert for advice. I told her that I wanted an Irish Moss look between my flagstone.
She showed me where they were;but also asked me to consider all of their "stepables" and recommended highly "Red Creeping Thyme"as an alternative.I stuck with Irish Moss and Scottish Moss;but also planted 2 of the Thymes.Around the border i planted a stepable euonymus. As it has turned out so far her advice was right on the money!The "mosses" are doing so-so; the euonymus has done poorly;but the Thyme hasdone excellently. The added bonus of the Thyme is that when you step on it ; it sends out it's aroma!

Here is a recent picture of the "Flagstone planting area"

This just show's the browning of the mosses. I need to get a picture of the "Red Creeping Thyme" at the gate entrance.

Merrill, I would love

Yes I did. I didn't know that they would disappear from here once copied. I'm looking at them now (total of 4 pictures);3 on one post and 1 on another under this topic. Doesn't everyone else see what i see?

Merrill, I just went back and checked and I still can't see the pictures. I says they have been removed, but it might be my computer because it has been doing funny things today! I guess we will have to wait until someone else shows up to see if they can see them.

Patti, I'll put them back on photobucket and copy them (3) to this post.

Here's 3 close-ups of the 3 types of "stepables" in the walkway. Scottish moss,Creeping euonymus,and Creeping Red Thyme.

Thanks for putting the pictures back, Merrill! I think you're going to really like the Creeping Red Thyme because I've seen it used before and it looked great!

Thanks for the compliment Patti This is first season growth; I expect losses and adjustments.
If you thrive here; then you are first in line to be planted over the ones that failed here.If you didn't die and you show promise of not only living but looking spectacular; then I will propegate you. So far the Red Creeping Thyme is is my choice. But I expect this may change as we go into another season.Anywho thanks for the input

Hey Merrill, I love I've only seen the Creeping Red Thyme and I thought it was pretty.

Hey Patti, I have to quit making such profound statements

Merrill, I totallly agree! I have plants thriving in my garden that should not be doing well in my area, and I've also had plants that should do well, but don't!!! You really just have to see what works for you and your situation and go from there. It seems like it's always a trial and error adventure!

Yes Patti, it seems that for that first month after planting;the little newby was just mean't to be here. Then all of a sudden it goes into some sort of dying mode and you have to know how to save it! With some the changes are minor;with others they're fast and furious;needing immediate attention!Is there a doctor in the house!!! :)What's ironic is some you want to die; you can't kill; their everlasting!

Oh Merrill, you hit the nail right on the head. I've been there and done that so many times I've lost count. There was the Yarrow which I planted for the butterflies and I got butterflies, but I had Yarrow coming up everywhere, even out of the bed and in the grass. It took me three years to finally get rid of it. Next was the pink Obedient Plant which was anything but obedient! It was taking over one of my perennials beds and it took two years to get rid of it, but I still find one poppping up every once in a while, so I have to keep a close eye on things. Merrill, the list goes on and on and on! The most frustrating thing is that you pay good money for these plants and all you get is headaches in return.

Patti, I find experimenting with ANNUALS in pots outdoors gives me "some" plant education as to watering and sun exposure. 1:They are contained ;2:I can put them anywhere I want quickly, and 3: I already know their going to die at the end of their season. The education is how well did i "treat them during their stay with me" period. This technique has helped me the best to understand the type plant and the area to plant it.A small investment to a larger project!

Merrill, I tend to stick with a few tried and true annuals that I like and use them mostly for their color. I find most of them require a lot of water and their exposure requirements tend to be pretty consistent. I use a lot of Impatiens for shade, and Begonias do well in sun or partial shade, while Petunias and Geraniums do well in sun. Of course, I overwinter my Geraniums and collect some from the neighbors who are throwing them out, but I have to make sure I can get them before the first frost.

Here is a picture of one that I got from a neighbor and overwintered. When she saw it the next year she remarked about what a gorgeous plant it was and asked where I got it. When I told her it was one she gave me, she couldn't believe it. I knew it had to be one of those she she gave me because she's the only one who gave me red ones and I don't buy red. Some of the blooms got almost as big as softballs which were much bigger flowers than when she had it.

Those look gorgeous Patti! I've never tried overwintering before.I like marigolds, impatiens, and moss rose for my 3 permanent patio planters and coleus,asparagus fern, maybe some sage or yarrow as a mix for my larger pots.I'll look and see if I have any photos. I'll post them if i do.

Patti, here are 3 pictures of my 2 pots I planted this year.

Now if I can find the patio planters photos.

Oh, Merrill, your containers are absolutely gorgeous! I love your patio plantings too, especially, the one with the Impatiens!

Thanks Patti,in my opinion the patio planters did so-so; I'll give them a 6.5 on Scale of 1 to 10. I was very pleased with the pots as all seemed to do well and survived the sun and heat. They definitely needed daily attention;but filled in very well. The Pplanters didn't fill in as much as I had hoped;the marigolds and the impatiens; but the moss rose did the best. I compare their little flowers to a "Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors" array of colors.I like changing the annuals each year;so who know's what next year's planting's will be!

Merrill, I don't know when you took the pictures of the patio planters, but you still have some time left for them to fill in a little more. Some of the flowers you have in the containers tend to become a little more bushy so they will look fuller. Of course, these summer temperatures we've been having certainly have taken a toll on everyones gardens and flowers.

Come end of September; I 'll look at the Pplanters and that will help to decide what and how much to plant next year(Annuals).This week has affected all my plants ;negatively as far as visually. But are they doing something positive below the surface? Are the roots of the new shade plantings perennials establishing?This might be a new forum posting as to what should i be doing now and next month?

Boy, I hear you, Merrill! This has been a rough summer for everyone! I think your perennials will be okay if you've kept them watered during this heat wave. They always die back in the winter anyway, but come next spring they'll start poking their little heads out.

Back to the mosses. I'm actually seeing how they spread! Between the flagstone I'm seeing tiny moss heads coming up. It's like they are seed plantings;but are there just because a real plant was placed in the one foot vicinity this spring. I understand that they don't have a real root system so I'm amazed at what I'm seeing! I was told that it would probably take about a year to fill in the area that I wanted to fill. After 5 months I thought no way; but now I think that is very attainable! I'll see if I can post some time line pictures.