Also known as the Scot’s or Corsican pearlwort moss, the Irish moss is a versatile plant that adds elegance to a landscape in a garden. It adds a finishing touch to a garden and beyond due to its amazing emerald green colored foliage, that forms a compact 2-inch thick carpet. It is a member of the Caryophllaceae family, and is botanically termed as Sagina subulata, as it grows greener in warmer seasons. They blossom tiny white flowers during spring and early summer months. They can even be grown in small pots.

What makes these plants even more loved is that they are simple to grow. They can be decorated around stepping-stones, walkways, patios, rock gardens, flowerbeds and lawn edges.


Here is how you grow Irish moss from seeds:


Step 1


Irish moss has to be grown in spring if planted outdoors. If you are planting it indoor, you may anytime of the year.


Step 2

Irish mosses grow well in dry and highly humid regions. But birds usually consume them and inclement weathers can hinder the plant growth. So plant the moss in a multi-compartment seedling tray, or an empty egg carton that has a lid removed. Poke holes in the tray with a toothpick. Combine equal amounts of Vermiculite and peat moss, and add it to each cell, setting it flat. Add water to it to make the soil moist.


Step 3

Sprinkle some seeds of the Irish moss and mix it into the soil in each cell. Firm them into their place, ensuring they are not fully covered by the soil. Place the container in a location with direct sunlight, like a windowsill in a room with a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds will begin to germinate within three weeks.


Step 4

Keep watering the soil till then, but never making the soil soggy. You just have to keep the seeds wet.


Step 5

When the seedlings grow ½ and inch tall, begin thinning them, and continue to thin them till they grow. Thinning is needed, as these plants tend to overcrowd each other. Once the moss is thick and richly green, you can move it outdoors.


Step 6


Loosen it from the container with the help of a fork, and transplant it over a well-drained location. Water the soil evenly throughout tits growing season. Apply fertilizer to the plant after it has flowered.