Red Clay: the substrate to make live moss wall terrarium: stick live moss on vertical glass panel

What soil should I use for growing moss?

Moss can grow on a variety of soils. If you are growing at home, gardening soil, or the soil in your backyard will do. But if you want to plant it on vertical smooth glass like I did, then you need very sticky soil.

I know people who use aquarium glue to fix moss on vertical surface. I tried that too. It also works, but it is obviously not as good as using clay.

(the above live moss wall terrarium is using red clay to stick moss live on the glass panel.)

Here

The reddish soil I am using to make live moss wall is: Tropical Red clay soil.

It is also called red soil, tropical red loam. It is a clay soil because it conatins clay.

Red soil, or red earth, is a natural soil characterized by its reddish color. It is from warm and humid tropical and subtropical regions.

The reddish colour vary from reddish brown to reddish yellow as a result of their high iron content.

How the red soil is developed?

The following answer (I googled online):

Soils in a tropical rainforest are typically red due to the presence of iron oxide, also known as rust. This mineral is found in high concentrations in the soil due to the high amount of rainfall and warm temperatures in the tropical rainforest environment. The rainfall and warmth cause the iron oxide to weather and break down, which results in the red color of the soil. Additionally, the high amount of vegetation in tropical rainforests can also contribute to the red color of the soil, as the plants and trees release tannins and other organic compounds that can stain the soil.

Characteristics of red soil:

1. It is a clay soil.

2. It is sticky, it is like plasticine when wet and super hard when dry.

3. It is super great to absorb water.

4. It is super poor in drainage.

5. It is red because it is rich in iron.

6. Use it only in close terrarium which guarantees in most of time it is a moist environment. If you can keep a moist environment like large greenhouse, then it is ok for almost all of your tropical plants will like it.

Here is the video how to mix it:

Here are two DIY tutorials of live moss wall terrarium I made. There are multiple photos and videos available on my social medial account and here my terrarium projects posts.

this is a totally vertical moss wall projects, together with creeping figs.

This is a previous one. the creeping figs spreading all over the terrarium and it is one of my most liked moss wall terrarium projects. It is more beautiful months later. I have post sharing its followups.

This one is made with moss and rock. I glued rocks together with instant glue. Then put a layer of red clay to provide substrate for the moss. If you are interested, I have a post for its followup videos and photos

Of course, my rainforest style moss and fern project in this irregular geometric terrarium.

For the hypnum moss which are small and lightweight, just a sheer layer is enough. Yes, I know it looks not good but check how they look like in 1 month.

Here is the final look. I have more follow up on my youtube, after 2 month. But this one is enough here. If interested, please check my channel.

Check this video for how I add more water and get a red clay lutioon to plant moss on lava.

By the same way, I plant moss on a piece of bark.

I do have other trials, like brush red clay tution to a buddha status and it does work. I planed to do a full video oncethe the status is cover full of mos. But it is ok to share some unfinished status.