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Dried moss is a craft material that can be used in a variety of home projects from wreaths to flower arrangements. Purchasing dried moss, however, can quickly become expensive, especially considering that many homes have the materials necessary to make a large collection of dried moss. Read the following article to learn how to dry moss from your own backyard and save yourself the expense of purchasing the specialty item from a craft store.

  1. Rocks and trees offer the easiest access for moss. Place the scraper under one corner of the moss and slowly work forward, lifting the moss from the rock, tree or surface as you go. Dislodge the moss in the largest pieces possible.
    • Use a rake if you are having difficulty getting the moss to come off its surface cleanly.
    • Use a plastic scraper for particularly stubborn pieces of moss.
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  3. Pick out all twigs, leaves, pine needles or other stray materials stuck in the moss and discard outside.[1]
  4. Place it on a paper towel or other absorbent surface. Press your palm against the moss into the absorbent surface. (When squeezing the moss, don't ball the moss up in your hands. When moss dries, it can become brittle and difficult to work with. Unfolding the moss can cause it to break into small pieces.) Spread all partially dry pieces of moss onto a flat surface.
    • The surface should receive generous ventilation (open windows, outside breeze, fans or other air source).
  5. This prevents the moss from blowing away or becoming folded or twisted while drying.[2]
  6. 6
    Leave the moss for several days or until it dries out thoroughly.
  7. Squeeze out excess moisture. Dry as you would for other, non-dyed moss.[4]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Is it possible to do this without using chemicals?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is. Just spray it with lemon juice (or any other citrus) and leave out for a few days.
  • Question
    How long will the dried moss hold it's color once out of the bag and used in a craft/centerpiece? Will it dry out more and turn brown?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This depends on where you bought it. If you bought it from a craft store then there is a lower chance of it turning brown.
  • Question
    Do I have to dye the moss after it has dried?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No. You don't have to dye the moss at all, you can leave it the color it is, although some prefer it dyed. If you're going to dye it, dye it after it has dried.
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Tips

  • Wait until all water has been removed as wet moss can easily mold. This will ruin the moss for any potential projects.
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Warnings

  • Do not employ the aid of artificial heaters to dry moss. This will cause the moss to become overly brittle and crumbly, and the moss will be difficult to work with after the fact.
  • When you make dry moss, make sure each piece of moss is separated. If multiple pieces of moss dry together, they will not be easily removed from each other.
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Things You'll Need

  • Moss
  • Rake
  • Plastic scraper
  • Towel, paper towel or absorbent surface
  • Flat surface
  • Wire netting
  • Glycerin
  • Water
  • Fabric dye
  • Cooking pot
  • Plastic storage bags

About This Article

Anne Schmidt
Reviewed by:
Chemistry Instructor
This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 121,795 times.
177 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 13
Updated: January 21, 2022
Views: 121,795
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 121,795 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Karen Lam

    Karen Lam

    May 31, 2016

    "It helped me very much in making materials for a friend's fairy garden. It is clear, precise, and to the..." more
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