If you did not know better you would think it was real!? Good luck. And then added the moss the same way. thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial. If you have greenish-black stuff on your concrete patio, it's probably mold, mildew, or moss. If the moisture/sun level is right it may like to grow… Just a thought. This method doesn't work well on resin statues and artificial landscape rocks. I would have to get a degree in chemistry and botany to figure out why not… Maybe the concrete has some residual material/PH that the moss does not like. Damp or moist conditions from rain or humidity can encourage mold and mildew to grow in those nooks and cracks of concrete pavers or bricks. Blend until it is a somewhat smooth slurry. Into the blender, mix roughly one cup of plain yogurt with two tablespoons of moss. Measure about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of crumbled moss into a food processor or blender. I gave this plaster artifact the faux concrete finish first. Concrete is a porous material which allows the rhizoids to attach to the sheltered areas of the concrete. Maybe you just have mold and mildew. As you may know now, I have a lot of ‘making’ in my history; some of which was teaching architectural model building. Let it work for five to 10 minutes, then scrub, rinse and let dry. Paint the concrete planters. See here. Unless you have years to wait, I like to ‘make my own’. If you research ‘moss growing’ you will be shown how it ‘can’ grow on a wall in the shape of letters… Really!? I highly doubt it. Encouraging moss to grow on new clay pots helps the pots blend in with the greenery of your garden. I would keep it natural though. Use a stiff-bristle brush for scrubbing away the dead moss on concrete or rake up the moss from the yard. In order for me to deliver valuable content for free, it takes both time and money. Mallory A. Westbrook and Jon S. Belkowitz, PhD. As in my tutorial for aging I use watery washes of acrylic paint (black, white and other colour mixes) so that it sinks into the porous concrete. These rhizoids allow the moss to firmly attach and grow on the surface, while absorbing water. AMACO … It's important to find a sure way to remove it that won't destroy nearby landscaping and harm the environment with a blast of harsh chemicals. Love the moss thing. Look for the same characteristics in concrete as you would in stone. Somewhere below where the birds … In order for me to deliver valuable content for free, it takes both time and money. Begin by adding a coat of off-white paint with a brush. The key is using enough ‘adherent’. Product Link. For some strange reason this year all the factors came together and I had some really nice little fuzzy green moss take hold. Step #1 Make the mix. I waited, and waited and waited. Moss-covered pots or garden statues look as if they have been in place for years. It is key that it is completely dry. I have also done this with other small ceramic items that where not the color or colors that I liked. How to Clean Moss From Concrete. Preferably, it is best to use live moss. Do let it dry thoroughly and then use a soft brush to gently sweep away what ever did not adhere. Will it last? In a blender, combine buttermilk and moss from the garden. Yogurt provides a medium on which your moss can grow. It is amazing stuff, keeps it great realistic colour and can be used for many things. Any ideas? You guessed it these are all concrete!…, Everyone gets to be a bit silly sometimes. Apply heavy layers of the moss mixture on each of the planters’ outside. Maybe people want to believe because it seems so easy. Collect moss from around your yard and tap it to remove the dirt. Spray a small area of the statue with water. The porous clay of the pots or concrete … Moss also adds tranquility to any shade garden. You could also use some fishing line and wrap some big chunks of found moss from the garden into corners. By the way, I was giving some ceramic face masks that would painted in bright colors and patterns that I did not care for so I painted them with a thin layer of cement and I now like them so much more now. I don’t want it just sitting on the surface as then it will probably peel off over time, as many of the ‘topical’ finishes do. First, combine plain yogurt or buttermilk (two cups) and chopped moss (one and a half cups) in a bucket. Check the area to see if the moss is dry and dead. I even put some of the mix in between the flagstone and saw no action there either! For example, some species of moss thrive on base-rich carboniferous limestone while others thrive on more acidic rocks. It is not an easy thing to keep it damp either as it can dry out in no time during a hot summer. The colour is somewhat brownish due to the soil from the moss. That’s why there is no moss in parking lots! To adhere the moss flocking is similar to working with glitter. I collected a good amount of green moss from the forest. Keep painted concrete pieces in a cool, dark place. I have included some great examples of where you could grow your own moss furth . Allow the mixture to sit for a day or two at room temperature to create spores. Thanks for documenting your process on the moss growing. I made those heads. Our next article will cover means and methods for creating a concrete that is resistant to moss and lichen growth. And being a true artist I keep ALL media, as you never know when you need it… Voila turf flocking fibre. This is genius and as soon as I am out of corona lock down i am doing this !! Take the sponge and totally soak it into the stain and then start squeezing it above the statue letting gravity and the natural shape of the figure dictate where the water will run. If you can get the acrylic medium or other paint to adhere then sprinkling moss in/on it will work. Green stuff growing between my interlock pavers has been a bit of an issue. Follow(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s);js.id = id;js.src = "https://www.bloglovin.com/widget/js/loader.js?v=1";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, "script", "bloglovin-sdk")). Pay special attention to the etched and cracked areas, as they will absorb the mixture faster. Algae, Fungi, Lichens, Moss: Chemical Cleaning of Brick, Concrete, or Stone Surfaces. If you are concerned about any ‘bits’ falling off,then a final layer of the matt acrylic medium will assure none falls off. Moss usually grows where the sun does not hit, undersides, crevices etc. In addition to the beneficial physical structure of concrete, different species of moss grow based on the acidity of the structure. Good luck & be safe! I have been trying to grow the darn stuff for years and like you I have it everywhere but where I put it. In addition to the beneficial physical structure of concrete, different species of moss grow based on the acidity of the structure. Instead of a glue that may soften when wet I use acrylic Matte Medium as that is waterproof when dry. Yogurt provides a medium on which your moss can grow. Repeat this process with a small amount of green and black paint. Live moss is so fussy on where it likes to grow. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Blend the mixture until it is smooth. It wasn’t that difficult. Plant flowers or herbs in the concrete container once the moss mixture begins to grow. Moss is quite resilient as it can come alive even after drying out. It will depend what dolls you can find though. I cleaned the Concrete Face quite well and then painted on the ‘moss mix’ I chose areas that would seem natural to grow like the bottom and sides and in crevices. The more moss you want to grow on the statue, the more moss you should add to the buttermilk. So, when I wanted some moss on my concrete I thought it was a no-brainer… Well, check out my interesting moss adventure so you too can figure out how to make moss. As a precaution I collected a few varieties. You really can’t go wrong. You can build up areas if you choose. You can usually get porcelain clay from local hobby shops. I have a concretre patio on which moss has started to grow.I would like to encourage the moss to spread over the entire patio which is shaded most of the day. Here are several ways to grow moss in the garden statues. Under trees, in bushes, in overgrown grass are all good places for moss to grow – take a look around your garden and see which other spots have moss growing in them and his will likely be a good spot for your new ‘old’ object to age. Mix until the concoction becomes easily spreadable; add water if … Pour it full strength over the moss. Good luck, Barb- I love you! Your email address will not be published. Many homes in humid climates are constantly battling algae and fungus growth. And if it does, it could take a very long time to beco. Within two months to a year, moss will grow on the objects. That will ensure me the moss that I want and where I want it! I misted it and kept it damp. This technique can work with anything that you want to look like old mossy concrete. Nature has a specific balance that we sometimes don’t really see. Moss is great for giving things such as new statues or walls, an aged, shabby chic feel. ‘Moss on’! I too would like some live moss on some of my cement planters and other projects. If you are casting your own concrete with moss in mind, mix 1 part dry peat moss or finished compost to 2 parts concrete mix. If your concrete is in shade and has easy access to moisture, here's a recipe that should work. 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Cover means and methods for creating a concrete that is resistant to moss and lichen.!