How to grow moss indoors – 3 ways to use this air purifying plant in your home

Growing moss indoors can both look attractive and make your home feel cleaner

Using moss indoors
(Image credit: merc67 via Getty Images)

The joy of indoor gardening is being able to connect our interiors with nature. Houseplants have grown in popularity, but indoor gardeners are becoming interested in more unique ways to green up indoor spaces.

If you're exploring new indoor garden ideas and want to include some more unusual houseplants, you should consider growing moss. Moss is an air purifying plant and one of the best air cleaning indoor plants. It can be used in a number to create attractive indoor décor pieces.

We've compiled an expert list of ideas for growing moss indoors so you can find the best way to incorporate it in your home.

Kokedama plant

(Image credit: Getty Images/Ekaterina Goncharova)

3 ways to grow moss indoors

Have you tried growing moss indoors? It's a great way to green up your space with unique décor and benefit from its air purifying qualities. We've compiled an expert list of ideas for growing moss indoors.

1. Use moss in a terrarium

Moss terrarium

(Image credit: qnula via Getty Images)

The most popular way to grow moss indoors is by making a terrarium with it. When growing moss, it's no surprise that it enjoys a moist environment. The microclimate of terrariums are therefore ideal for growing moss indoors.

'Moss is best placed on the soil in the terrarium. While you can sometimes grow in moss without soil, it is generally more effective to plant in soil and cover with moss,' says Julie Bawden Davis, indoor plant expert at Healthy Houseplants.

Moss thrives in humid and moist environments, so growing it in a terrarium will allow it to thrive. Its bright green color can also add interest to your terrarium, paired with other vibrant terrarium plants to create a beautiful display.

You can shop for terrarium containers online, like this terrarium planter from Amazon.

Julie Bawden-Davis
Julie Bawden Davis

Julie Bawden Davis is a garden author and University of California Certified Master Gardener, who has written several gardening books, including Indoor Gardening The Organic Way. In addition to running HealthyHouseplants.com, she shares indoor gardening advice on her YouTube channel @HealthyHouseplants.

2. Create a moss centerpiece

Moss centerpiece

(Image credit: Heidi Patricola via Getty Images)

If you want to make a statement moss piece, you can try your hand at using moss in a centrepiece arrangement. You can create a plant arrangement in a container or use moss balls around the base of another indoor plant.

'It's possible to use the moss as the focal point. For instance, arranging the moss in a shallow container and then decorating the moss with accessories,' says Julie.

No matter how you choose to create a moss centerpiece, you should try to keep humidity and moisture levels up so that the moss retains its green color. This can be done by regularly misting it, like with this mister from Amazon.

You can even try pairing your moss with indoor plants to make a living room smell nice to enhance your centerpiece further.

3. Make a moss kokedama

Hanging kokedama spider plants and ferns

(Image credit: Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley: Rob Streeter)

Another way to grow moss indoors is by making kokedama - a Japanese method of creating indoor hanging plants by using moss balls.

'You cover a ball of soil in moss and secure it with fishing line or string to hold it all together and then insert plant roots through the moss and into the soil,' says Julie. 'The most attractive kokedama are covered in a good amount of plants, leaving some moss visible,' she adds.

It can be easy to create your own kokedama, or you can buy kits online like this kokedama kit from Walmart.

Make sure to research how to care for kokedama to ensure you keep yours looking healthy.

FAQs

How do you care for moss indoors?

You can use moss indoors to create beautiful plant displays, whether its kokedama or in terrariums. Moss does require certain care to stay bright and healthy indoors, however.

'Moss needs to remain moist or else it will dry out and die or become brown, crispy and unattractive looking,' says Julie Bawden Davis, indoor plant expert at Healthy Houseplants. 'Misting on a regular basis is a good idea, as well as soaking in water of the arrangement is mobile,' she adds.


Growing moss indoors is a great way to green up your interiors and add air purifying plants to leave your rooms feeling cleaner. There are lots of ways to use moss indoors for attractive displays, so that you can decorate with plants in a way that suits your aesthetic.

Tenielle Jordison
News Writer (Gardens)

Tenielle is a News Writer in the Gardens team at Homes & Gardens with five years of journalistic experience. She studied BA Journalism, Media and English Literature and MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. Before coming to Homes & Gardens, Tenielle was in the editorial department at the Royal Horticultural Society and worked on The Garden magazine. She is passionate about sustainable living and likes to encourage gardeners to make greener choices to help tackle the effects of climate change with a trowel in hand. Tenielle is also a houseplant lover who is slowly running out of room for her ever-growing collection.