Moss is not a welcome guest in the flower box. If the rootless spore plants join perennials, ornamental trees and summer flowers, they signal unsuitable general conditions. Read here how to interpret the message of the green indicator plants correctly and how to react to them with adequate measures.

Terracotta pots quickly grow moss

Understand the moss in the flower box as a signal - do that now

Cleverly, moss takes advantage of the moment when your ornamental plants in the flower box (€16.99) are weak and spreads cheekily. The presence of the green pads indicates the following problems in cultivation:

  • A location far too shady and cool for ornamental plants
  • Too low a pH value in the deeply acidic range
  • A compacted substrate with waterlogging
  • Acute nutrient deficiency

If you can identify unsuitable light and temperature conditions as the trigger, moving to the sun will solve the problem. With the remaining 3 of the factors mentioned, moss is banished from the flower box by repotting the plants. If this is not possible in the middle of the flowering period, remove the moss covering. Loosen up the substrate, apply a liquid fertilizer with extra iron (no ferrous sulfate) and mulch with grit (€46.95) or pebbles.

Cleaning terracotta flower boxes from moss - this is how it works

Terracotta is a porous, breathable material that rootless moss plants like to cling to with their rhizoids. The green covering disturbs the naturally warm, earthy look considerably. How to clean the mossy flower box without chemicals:

  • First scrub the terracotta jar with a hard sponge and hot water
  • Immerse the flower box in a tub with 10 to 20 liters of water for 1 hour
  • Then add 300 to 600 ml of vinegar to the water
  • After 2 to 3 days, scrub off the loosened moss with a brush

Since the terracotta is saturated with vinegar water, immerse the window box in clear water again for 24-36 hours. Now fill in cheap potting soil. After a week, the substrate has absorbed the vinegar residue and can be disposed of. Then the clean flower box is ready for a new planting.

tips

Are you struggling with cool, shady locations where no flowers in the planter want to thrive? Such a dreary niche is decoratively greened by populating the window box with moss and shade-tolerant, hardy plants such as heather rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), small-fruited cranberry (Vaccinium microcarpum) or sundew (Drosera intermedia).

Category:

Vegetable garden