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Spanish moss is
a native, perennial epiphytic herb. It is not Spanish, nor a
moss, but a flowering plant. The slender, wiry, long, branching
stems (reaching over 20ft) grow as suspended, bluish-gray streamers and
garlands draping among tree branches and sometimes telephone lines and
fences. The plant is not parasitic, as is often thought, but
attaches itself to trees for support.
The plant has no roots but derives its nutrients from rainfall,
detritus and airborne dust.  The stems and leaves are covered with
overlapping silver-gray scales, which are important for absorbing water
and trapping dust and nutrient particles. The
very narrow, linear, awl-shaped leaves (1 to 3 inches long) are whitish
gray. Numerous, small, solitary blue or pale green flowers with
three petals (6 to 8 mm long) grow in the axils of the leaves.
The flowers, which bloom for a period of three to four months from
spring to fall, form interesting seeds (2.4 to 3 mm) with hairy sails
that float on the wind and stick to tree branches.
Habitat: Spanish moss grows on trees in areas of high humidity.
It can be found on live oak and pines that border estuaries, rivers,
swamps, and along the coastal plains of the Southeastern United
States.
Establishment
Spanish moss may be propagated by seed or by
division. The plants are very easy to grow, as they need no soil
or transplanting, requiring only warmth and moisture. They are
grown in greenhouses or outside in warm climates. The plants need
temperature of 70 degrees or warmer in the summer and not less than 60
degrees in the winter. The plants grow well in full sunlight to
partial shade. To propagate by division, place divided plantlets
on bark slabs in areas with plenty of light and moisture. Mist
plants regularly with lukewarm water. Spanish moss rarely blooms
in cultivation.
Management
Although Spanish moss does not take nutrients from
the host tree, it should be thinned if it becomes too thick. This
is because it may either shade the tree’s leaves or, when it is wet it
can become very heavy and the branches may break under its weight.
Source: USDA
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Active Growth:
Spring, Summer
Growth Rate: Slow
Ideal Habitat:
High Humidity. Close to bodies of water.
Ideal Temperature:
Summer: 70 degrees or warmer. Winter: 60 degrees. Minimum 22
degrees. Requires a minimum of 300 frost free days
Orientation:
Hanging so that most of the plant is free floating.
Source of Nutrients:
Rainfall, decayed debris and airborne dust
Shade:
Partial or Full Sun
Watering:
Mist plants regularly with lukewarm water. Spanish moss rarely
blooms in cultivation.
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