When to Plant Irish Moss Seeds
- Irish moss grows well in a variety of environments, including cooler ones. If sowing seeds outdoors, plant your Irish moss before the last frost, around late February or early March. The cold freeze will stimulate the seeds into germinating.
Irish moss loves moist, sandy soils. Loose sand makes it easy for the moss to clump and spread, making it perfect for areas where other plants will not grow. - You may sow Irish moss seeds in the fall outdoors, but you must protect them from birds and rodents searching for a last autumn meal. Sprinkling straw or covering the seeded area with mesh works well.
When sowing in the fall, time it so the seeds are in the ground before the first frost, around mid-September to the middle of October. The cold winter months will signal the seeds that it's time to germinate. - Push the seeds about 1 inch beneath the soil in a prepared garden bed. Space the seeds about 5 inches apart; the sprouting plants will sprout and clump together too quickly if they're planted too close together.
Once planted, mulch the entire area with about an inch of sand. This protects the seeds from predators, keeps them warmer during the winter months and gives them the loose, sandy soil they need to grow. - Irish moss, for the most part, takes care of itself. It loves moisture, so water the beds during very hot and very dry weather. About a gallon per square foot every three days should keep your Irish moss at prime moisture levels.
This clumping plant doesn't usually require fertilization, but in dry weather add a teaspoon of liquid fertilizer per gallon of water every third time you water your plants.