Where does moss come from? Is it sustainable?

The moss used in Littlewood Terrariums comes from my own garden and from responsibly collecting some plants in allowed areas. When I started to pay attention to moss, I could see it everywhere! It is amazing how it is present all around us, there is moss in parks, trees, even growing over rocks and walls.

I collected many different species and made terrariums with them. After many experiences, I found out that some species are better suited for life inside glass than others, some give more work because you have to collect dead leaves, and others, as they grow over the dead leaves using them as structure and support, don't give almost any work at all, like my beloved cushion moss.

While learning from trial and error about the plants preferences in a closed environment, I discovered that some combinations as mosses and lichens do not work at all. The presence of lichens will eventually create mold in your terrarium, and will end up by killing the moss.

The more I learned about mosses, collecting and experimenting with different species, I became concerned about the sustainability of working with those amazing little plants. I found out that collecting is fine if you take some individuals of the colony, but not the whole thing. Some moss colonies are huge, so responsible sampling does not cause any harm. Discovering areas where development will happen, and under permission collect some plants is also a good way to preserve them.

Another concern I have is not to work with endangered species. Unfortunately even mosses suffer the consequences of human actions, and there are some species that are fighting to survive. I constantly research about those species in a conscious effort to preserve them.

I also decided not to work anymore with Reindeer moss, because it is considered endangered in many places, even if it is still largely commercialized. The Reindeer moss is actually a lichen, that constitutes one of the important food sources for caribou (reindeer). It grows slowly and an area may take decades to recover after being exploited. So, I chose to take them out of my Dry Terrariums line.

Littlewood Terrariums is deeply committed to preserve our environment, only working with sustainable species.

Below, the mosses at risk listed by Species at Risk Public Registry of Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

• Spoon-leaved Moss

Scientific Name: Bryoandersonia illecebra

More information here:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPag/MNR_SAR_SPN_LVD_MSS_EN.html

Image here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/voodoosnakes/5464119226/

• Incurved Grizzled Moss

Scientific Name: Ptychomitrium incurvum

More information here:
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=734

Image here:
http://plantdb.biology.duke.edu:8080/BryoImages/Ptychomitrium_incurvum/Ptychomitrium_incurvum_66752_h.jpg

• Pygmy Pocket Moss

Scientific Name: Fissidens exilis

More information here:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPage/MNR_SAR_PYGMY_PCKT_MSS_EN.html

Image here:
http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/jds/iow/Fattingpark/Fissidensexilis.jpg