What does moss eat? Mosses are delicate, tiny plants that most people think of as decorations for landscapes. But, what many people don’t realize is that moss has a unique life cycle and diet that allows them to thrive in some of the harshest environments on earth.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what mosses eat to survive and how they manage to stay alive in some of the most challenging conditions on the planet.

So What Does Moss Eat?

Mosses have low photosynthetic activity and rely on the absorption of water and dissolved minerals from the substrates they grow on for their food. This also allows them to grow in very wet environments where few other plants can survive.

Depending on the species of moss, some will also harvest carbon dioxide from the sun to create food by photosynthesis. especially the types that grow in dry conditions.

Mosses can be found almost everywhere in the world except for Antarctica and are one of the most abundant plants on earth.

Water helps moss to absorb nutrients and also provides them with a source of hydration during dry periods when there isn’t any rainfall or snowfall happening around them (like during winter).

Mosses will die off if they do not receive enough water over an extended period of time without some type of relief from those conditions such as access to standing water like ponds or streams.

What mosses eat:

Rainwater Nutrients
Sunlight Carbon Dioxide

In the wild, mosses have been observed growing on tree trunks and rocks. In these situations, they are able to absorb water from rain or dew via their leaves and stems.

What Does Aquatic Moss Eat?

Moss is often associated with being a plant that grows in damp, shady areas on land. However, did you know that there are also types of moss that grow underwater?

This unique form of moss can be found in lakes and rivers and is known to be used in aquariums to create beautiful underwater landscapes.

Mosses that live underwater like (java moss) get the majority of their nutrients from dissolved minerals in the water through their stems and leaves. Not their rhizoids, like land moss!

Java Moss will in fact eat the nutrients, (nitrates NO3) from fish waste! However, some people that grow this type of moss in their aquarium may add “CO2 and fertilizer” in the water “to give it a boost” making it grow faster.

Some aquatic mosses have been known to attach themselves to submerged logs, rocks, and other surfaces where they can get a good supply of sunlight through the water for photosynthesis.

What Aquatic Moss Eats:

Nitrates NO3) From Fish Waste
Dissolved Minerals In The Water
CO2 Nitrogen Fertilize To Give It A Boost

What Does Desert Moss Eat?

Mosses are known for growing in damp environments such as forests and woodland areas. However, there are also types of moss that can grow in desert conditions where they must survive with little water available to them.

One type of moss called “Syntrichia Caninervis” can survive in sandy arid conditions and is located mainly in the Mojave desert in California. They survive by growing under rocks where there is trapped moisture keeping them moist.

Although this moss does also grow in the open, the moss that is sheltered will grow much faster. However, sunlight is still important to this moss because again it is used for photosynthesis.

What Desert Moss Eats:

Trapped Moisture Under Rocks
Sunlight Photosynthesis

How Does Moss Ingest Their Food?

Moss does not have a digestive system! Instead, they absorb nutrients through the leaves, stems, and harvest carbon dioxide and sunlight by photosynthesis to create their food.

Their root-like structure called rhizoids are not roots, but just a system of cells that help anchor the moss to its substrate and absorb nutrients.

The main type of nutrient absorbed by moss is water, which they use in photosynthesis and respiration as well as providing them with hydration during dry periods.

How To Feed Moss When Growing Your Own?

Mosses do not need to be fertilized and in fact, doing so can actually harm them. If you are growing moss indoors or outside in a container, you can water their leaves and stems using a spray bottle this will give them the nutrients they need!.

You should mist the area around the moss every few days if it is dry. Another thing to remember is that mosses should not be over-watered! If excess water can’t evaporate then this will cause it to rot. So don’t overdo it!

As for carbon dioxide simply place the moss on your window sill or if your growing it outside just let nature do its work! or if you’re using a container leave the lid off so it can get some sunlight.

Water Moss Leaves And Stems Using A Spray Bottle
For Carbon Dioxide Place The Moss In Sunlight
Mist The Moss Every Couple Of Days
Don’t Over Water!

How To Feed Underwater Moss?

Moss that grows underwater can live on dissolved minerals in the water so you don’t need to do anything except maybe give it a trim every now and then just so it doesn’t overgrow.

As before you can add “CO2 and fertilizer” just to make it grow faster if you have a small amount but this is optional. No matter what the moss will grow if it has the right environment.

Let It Grow Naturally Underwater
Add “CO2 and fertilizer” (Optional)

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. Now you know what moss eats, and how it gets its nutrients from the environment around them.

Mosses is very resilient and has been around for millions of years and continues to thrive today, thanks to their ability to adapt and survive in harsh conditions.

We hope you enjoyed this article about what moss eats. Please feel free to check out the rest of our blog for more interesting and informative articles about moss!