Moss techniques

In the following we present techniques for DIY mossing:


1. DIY mossing on lattice girders made of hot-dip galvanized aviary wire with 25mm mesh size

  • If you're using premium or flora quality Icland moss for your own mosses, then sort the Iceland moss into small clusters with the bushy side on top. Depending on the thickness of the individual Iceland mosses, combine 2-4 into a tuft.
  • Then shorten the moss tuft to an even length (5-8cm depending on taste) by tearing off or cutting off the roots.
  • Then insert the moss tuft from above into one of the wire grids. As soon as you release the moss tuft, it expands and holds automatically.
  • Afterwards you can also correct the position of individual tufts of moss by carefully pulling the tuft out and fixing it again.
  • With different moss colours you can easily create symmetrical shapes, fonts or patterns in the wire grid.
  • You need approx. 7-8 kg to moss an area of one square metre with Iceland moss in premium or flora quality.

2. Moss your self on cork, polystyrene or other soft materials with florist clips/patent holders with a minimum material thickness of 30mm.

  • If you are mossing with Iceland moss in premium or flora quality, then sort the moss in small clusters with the bushy side on top. Depending on the thickness of the individual mosses, combine 2-4 into a tuft. If you use moss flakes, group them together in tufts.
  • Then shorten the moss tuft to an even length (5-8cm depending on taste) by tearing off or cutting off the roots.
  • Then place the moss tuft with one hand on the carrier material and push the florist clip / patent holder diagonally from the side with the other hand through the lower part of the moss tuft with the tips into the cork plate so that the moss tuft is clamped. Patent holders can be found here .
  • Afterwards you can also correct the position of individual tufts of moss by carefully pulling out the florist clip / patent holder and fixing the tuft of moss again.
  • Edge mossing 90 degrees: In order to achieve the cleanest possible edge, you should start with the mossing all around the outer edges of the carrier plate. Then moss all around the cork carrier until the sides are completely mossed. The transition to the upper side of the carrier plate can be achieved by first laying the moss tufts, adapted to the sides, all around and then gradually erecting them again all around. If you prefer a round edge, then you should moss 2-3 rows around and erect more and more. If you want to make a square edge, one row of thick tufts is enough.
  • Production of large format images: Cork or polystyrene supports are only suitable for the production of large-format pictures if they are further stabilised. Color MDF boards between 10mm and 16mm material thickness are suitable for stabilization. The cork or polystyrene should be glued onto the entire surface of the MDF board before mossing.
  • You need approx. 7-8 kg to moss an area of one square metre with Icland moss in premium or flora quality.

Different cork and polystyrene supports can be found here.


3.1 Moss your self with Islandmoos in Premium - or Flora - quality on hard moisture-resistant underground as for example, colored MDF plates with a material thickness from 10 to 16mm

  • If you're using premium or flora quality Island moss for your own mosses, then sort the Island moss into small clusters with the bushy side on top. Depending on the thickness of the individual mosses, combine 2-4 into a tuft.
  • Then shorten the moss tuft to an even length (5-8cm depending on taste) by tearing off or cutting off the roots.
  • Start mossing all around the edge of the MDF board. For the edge mossing, place the moss on the MDF board so that the bushy side of the moss ends directly with the edge. Then tack with an electric or compressed air tacker over the lower part of the moss bundle an elastic textile tape with a width of 3-5mm. 
  • The moss tufts in the second circle behind the edge mossing are set up at a 90 degree angle to the plate. The root is bent towards the inner surface of the MDF board. Then tack them back on with an elastic textile tape.
  • Stabilisation tip: Further strength can be achieved by gluing the moss additionally. Use cork glue or thick wallpaper glue for textile wallpapers. Apply the adhesive with a coarse toothed trowel to the MDF board before processing the moss.
  • You need approx. 7-8 kg to moss an area of one square metre with Icland moss in premium or flora quality.

3.2 Moss your self with moss flakes on a hard, moisture-resistant surface such as coloured MDF boards with a material thickness from 10 to 16mm.

  • Moss your self with moss flakes takes place very simply by gluing the moss over the entire surface.
  • Apply cork glue or thick wallpaper glue for textile wallpapers to the MDF board with a coarse toothed spatula. Observe drying times and processing times.
  • Then distribute the moss flakes evenly over the MDF board.
  • Then place a second board of the same size on top of the moss flakes to weigh them down. Caution: The moss flakes should lie so thickly on the lower plate that the plates do not touch and inadvertently stick together. Wait for the specified drying time from the adhesive manufacturer.
  • Remove the weighting plate and shake off or cut off the non-fixed moss flakes. Done!
  • You need approx. 1-2 kg to moss an area of one square meter with moss flakes from Island moss.
4. Moss flakes behind glass
  • Simply pour moss flakes into transparent glass containers or behind transparent walls. This creates very decorative elements and wall objects. There are no limits to your creativity.

In case you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us or give us a call.