Moss Microlandscape and Bonsai Tree Propagation

This is a micro landscape moss terrarium. This is also a home cuttage project.

When people hear the word “cuttage,” a bunch of so-called “rules” tend to pop into their heads: you can only do it in spring, you must wrap the branch with plastic… as if the branch would go on strike the moment you skip a step.

Most of these tips were handed down from our ancestors—who, let’s be honest, were mostly growing crops, but if you try them on ornamental plants? You’ll waste extra effort and money for little payoff.

Times have changed—it’s time our methods did, too.

The real secret to successful cuttage boils down to just two words: humidity and temperature. Nail those two, and you can do cuttage anytime, make it look beautiful, and even turn it into a little decorative scene for your home.

Take the small box in the photo, for example. The star here is Rhododendron kiusianum (Komachi azalea), with a few sprigs of Japanese boxwood as supporting actors. The method is ridiculously simple: snip the twigs, stick them in, and you’re done! I can say this confidently because I’ve tried it before—with a great success rate. This batch has already rooted nicely. Once they’re fully grown, I’ll share a “before and after” video so you can watch the transformation.

By the way, the moss I used this time is old dried moss. Once soaked, it turns green, then later fades to yellow, and slowly turns green again—perfect for marking the passage of time. I’m always recommending moss for plant care because it makes almost anything grow better. For this experiment, I used dried moss on purpose so I could compare it with my “fresh moss cuttage method.”

So don’t worry—I’ll post each experiment in turn, so you can enjoy the results.

About the photos in this set:

Most of the plants you see are Komachi azaleas.

The moss on the wood is attached with red clay. I pressed the moss into the clay, then stuck the azalea branches right in—no extra supports needed. This is one of the reasons I love working with clay.

Japanese boxwood will root and sprout quickly. Komachi azalea will take longer. But in this moist environment, rest assured—the leaves will stay lush and green the whole time.

To be updated.