Do You Need a Living Moss Rug?

You’ve probably seen moss rugs (aka moss mats) popping up on social media. Whether purchased online or DIYed, a moss rug is like a mini magic carpet that brings the lush look and feel of a cushy forest floor into your home.

We talked with moss expert Jim Fucetola, president of Moss Acres, which builds moss walls and roofs as well as rugs. They also offer a DIY moss rug kit and individual components.

So do you need one? Let’s find out!

First, What Is Moss, Exactly?

If you’re considering bringing moss into your home, it’s a good idea to understand what it is.

Moss is a plant that doesn’t need much sunlight or soil to grow, so it’s one of the few that works well in a humid space like a bathroom. As the only non-vascular plant in the world, moss has no roots. It takes up moisture through its leaves, Fucetola says, so it can grow without soil.

If you’re concerned about moss attracting insects or mold, don’t worry. If you purchase your moss rug or components from a reputable source and don’t keep the moss sitting in water, you shouldn’t get bugs or mold.

We don’t recommend harvesting moss from the wild, to prevent inadvertently bringing something unwanted into your home. It also preserves the natural ecosystem where wild moss grows.

What Is a Moss Rug?

A moss rug is what its name implies — it’s a rug or mat with a base that holds moss plants.

Moss rugs can be a beautiful addition to many home styles. They look especially at home in a modern or Japanese aesthetic, a cabin or a home with a fairytale, hobbit-like vibe. And while it’s not the same as true forest bathing in the woods, the tenets of biophilic design espouse that simply looking at nature relaxes us.

Benefits of a moss rug

• Moss mats add lush green color and a soft, feathery texture that contrasts with the hard surfaces of the bathroom.
• “You get that sensory feeling of grounding, and walking on live vegetation,” says Fucetola.
• Because it’s all leaf, moss makes more oxygen per square foot than any other plant. “A handful of moss is equivalent to the leaf surface of a tree,” Fucetola says. So a moss rug may improve your air quality to some degree.

Moss rug drawbacks

While moss is resilient, Fucetola says it needs regular misting indoors. Moisture, even in your bathroom, is not sufficient to wet the surface.

DIY Moss Rug

Moss rug kits are handy. But if you like starting from scratch and customizing your projects, here’s an outline of what you’ll need:

• A waterproof, non-slip base. It can be a wood, metal, plastic or silicone tray. Attach a non-slip rug backing to it with spray adhesive.
• A breathable center that can hold moisture, with about an inch of additional depth for planting the moss. Choose a capillary mat made of recycled plastic, coconut fiber matting, cork sheeting or high-density foam such as Plastazote.
• Moss. You have two choices:
  • Living moss: Types include sheet, cushion, Reindeer and Sphagnum. Ordering online is often your best bet. The moss usually arrives dry and is revived by soaking before planting. Living moss has a natural look and feel, and it needs water every few days.
  • Dried moss: It’s lower maintenance because it doesn’t need watering. However, there are fewer choices of color and texture, and it can’t improve your air.

How to plant moss

• Soak the moss while you prepare for planting.
• Pre-moisten the planting base (foam or coconut coir).
• Lay Moss-Tac or similar tackifier at the bottom of your planting, and place moss on top. Press down gently to encourage contact.

Adding rocks

You can glue on river rocks for texture and aesthetics..

Placing and Caring for Your Moss Rug

• A moss rug will do best with diffuse vs. direct natural light, away from heat sources, including heated floors. These make it dry out faster.
• Moss likes consistent, light moisture, so keep a plant mister or gentle-flow watering can nearby. However, Fucetola says don’t allow water to accumulate in your tray, which could encourage mold growth. Remember, moss doesn’t have roots, so it can’t absorb moisture from below.
• If your moss rug dries out, it will go dormant and you’ll see color fading from green to yellow and brown. The moss should be able to be revived with regular attention.

Ready-Made Moss Rugs

If you need that cushy green vibe right away, Moss Acres sells pre-made living moss rugs. You can find others on Etsy, like this live moss mat. Or you can opt for a textile lookalike that never needs watering.

Whether you need a moss rug is up to you. If it’s a yes, find the one that brings you that luxurious spa feeling and enjoy!