Different Types of Moss Walls and How to Make One

Moss walls are the new hot trend right now especially for people with an affinity for green. They’re super easy to construct and don’t require you to sacrifice much of your free space. Moss walls are interior or exterior arrangements decorated with either living or preserved moss, which is then placed against a wall. 

There are several types of moss that can be used to make a moss wall and many of these can even be combined, for example, mood, reindeer and sheet moss. And in this article, we will go in-depth about all of the different types of moss walls and how you can construct one yourself.

So if you:

• Want to build an indoor moss wall but don’t know where to start.
• Are looking to learn about the different types of moss that can be used for building a moss wall.
• Are wondering whether to go with an artificial or real moss for your moss wall.

Then this post is for you.

The different types of moss walls

Moss walls fall into three categories – living, artificial and preserved. 

Living moss wall 

Living moss walls are a bit different from living walls and vertical gardens even though the name would imply the opposite. The main difference comes from the fact that moss, unlike the plants used for vertical gardens, is a hardy plant that can thrive in many different environments.

But moss is also easier to manipulate, meaning that it can be used for sculpting and creating different shapes. One downside of moss is that it doesn’t improve air quality by producing oxygen like normal plants.

Living moss walls may be low maintenance but they still require a fair bit of care, such as watering, fertilizing and access to natural light, in order to thrive. If looked after the right way, a living moss wall can live up to 25 years.

Artificial moss wall

Artificial moss walls are a great alternative for those, who don’t have a fortune to spend on a moss wall and don’t want to be bothered with performing regular maintenance. However, such walls are as the name suggests – artificial, meaning that they come with none of the benefits that living moss ones bring to the table.

Basically, if you’re ok with having artificial house plants in your home instead of real ones, you will feel right at home with an artificial moss wall. However, if that is not the case, we recommend you opt for something more real.

Preserved moss wall 

Preserved moss walls are closer to living moss walls rather than artificial ones, mainly due to the fact that they are sort of real. You see, preserved moss is actually natural moss that is no longer alive but has been carefully preserved for decorative purposes. Preserved moss can’t breathe like live moss, but retains the appearance and feel of live moss. It doesn’t require any maintenance and can last a lifetime.

Which moss wall type is better for indoors? 

If you plan to install a moss wall indoors, it’s best to go for something that requires next to no maintenance. So, something like a preserved moss wall will be your best bet.

Preserved moss is perfect for an indoor moss wall as it comes in a lot of different varieties and colours that you can choose from or even mix. Plus, once it’s up, it won’t require any maintenance whatsoever – no watering, no access to sun, no nothing. 

There are several types of preserved moss that are quite popular for building out a wall:

• Mood moss – This is one of the most commonly used mosses as it’s readily available, inexpensive and looks absolutely beautiful on the wall. Mood moss is thick, fluffy and boasts a velvety appearance. 
• Reindeer Moss – Although this one isn’t technically a moss, but rather a lichen that grows in arctic lands, it’s still a popular choice for moss walls. This lichen gets its name from the fact that it’s a common treat for reindeers, caribous and mooses. Reindeer moss is quite unique, as its texture is bushy and sponge-like. And since it also grows in a natural off-white colour, it is oftentimes dyed during the preservation process, meaning that you can buy it in a variety of vibrant colours. 
• Deerfoot Moss – Same as Reindeer Moss, Deerfoot Moss is also a lichen. Many even mistake it and sell it as Reindeer moss, due to their similar appearance. However, Deerfoot Moss has a couple of distinguishing characteristics, such as its tighter texture and it being very soft to the touch.

Same as with a living moss wall, preserved ones can too be decorated with numerous accessories, such as dried twigs, driftwood, dried seed pods, sponge mushrooms and many more. These are great for adding a bit of elevation and a detailed texture to your beautiful preserved moss wall. 

Of course, if you decide to add any living accessories to your preserved moss wall, those will require some maintenance. You’ll have to mist them with a spray bottle, for instance.

Outdoor moss wall 

If it’s an outdoor wall, you want covered in moss, we recommend you opt for the living variety. Yes, it requires a bit more maintenance, but the aesthetic an exterior living moss wall brings to the table is so worth it.

• Same as with preserved moss, there are many varieties of live moss that you can use to grow your outside wall. These included Broom fork moss, Prairie sphagnum, Leucobryum moss and of course smooth cap moss.

• Prairie sphagnum – This species of peat moss is light green to light brown in colour.
• Leucobryum moss – Leucobryum is a type of moss that can either be yellow-green or dark green, depending on the moss’s moisture content.
• Broom fork moss – This moss can grow up to 10 cm in thickness and forms yellow-green or dark-green cushions. However, it can also form large patches.

Living moss goes very well with other plant accents, which give your wall an additional burst of colours. The plants, most people add to their moss walls, in order to make them stand out, are Air plants, Pothos and Bromeliads.

When dealing with a living moss wall, you will need to water it and its plant accents regularly, in order to keep everything looking lush and green.

How to make your very own indoor moss wall 

Building a moss wall inside your home isn’t as hard as it might sound, especially when you have the right tools and equipment at your disposal.

Tools you’ll need:

• Staple gun
• Hot glue gun with a cartridge

Materials:

• Pre-built frame to house your plywood
• A piece of plywood cut to the shape you want
• Preserved moss/ living moss
• Additional accessories

The easy way of installing moss on walls:

Step 1: Assemble your frame

Cut your plywood to the desired size and then place it on the back of your frame. Then, staple the plywood onto the frame. The plywood and frame will act as the moss wall’s foundation. 

Step 2: Add the moss

Now it’s time for the fun part. Use your hot glue gun to glue your moss pieces onto the plywood. You can arrange your moss however you like and even spice things up by mixing different varieties. Get creative!

Step 3: Spice things up with colourful accessories

Adding additional texture to your moss wall is quite simple, just introduce to it some colourful accessories. If you have any dried wood, driftwood or sponge mushrooms, now’s the time to glue them to your art piece.

Step 4: Test if everything’s settled

Wait for the glue to dry. Then wiggle the frame around to see if there are parts that haven’t settled properly. If you notice any elements hanging, now’s the time to glue them back to the plywood. 

Step 5: Additional living moss maintenance

If you used living moss for your indoor moss wall, you will need to water it at least once a week using a spray bottle. Also, make sure the wall gets enough sunlight on a daily basis. 

Get in touch with professional landscapers

Want an exterior moss wall installed, but can’t do it yourself, then Fantastic Services are your best bet. The landscapers we work with are all certified professionals with years of experience in the field. All you need to do is provide us with the moss you want your exterior wall covered in and we’ll do the rest.

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Did you find our post helpful? Have you ever tried to install a moss wall by yourself? Then, do share your experience with our readers in the comments below!