The Fat Plant Society moss is “harvested” in North Carolina and Kentucky and then our supplier,  Gil, takes the moss to his workshop in Florida where the moss is preserved using a paraffin/glycerin process that Gil holds as a proprietary process.

The moss is essentially dormant, meaning it is neither living nor dead (we have experimented with getting the preserved moss to grow again and under the right conditions, it can be done) and will retain its color for at least ten to fifteen years. 

See our blog for more on moss as a design material and the benefits of moss and biophilic design.

We offer three types of moss.  
Reindeer moss (pictured below) is the most commonly requested moss and comes in a bright, spring green color.

Sheet moss is less fluffy and because it is thinner, we do not recommend using sheet moss for large moss wall installations. 

Pillow moss is the “chunkiest” type of moss and comes in forest green.  Pillow moss offers a more varied texture but is slightly heavier and is the most expensive of the three types of Fat Plant Society moss.

Moss is a natural soundproofing material and will soften the noise level while simultaneously cleaning the air of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Moss can also serve as a kind of “barometer” for the air quality in a given space.  If the moss remains soft and fluffy to the touch, the air quality and humidity are at optimum levels.  
That said, this level of monitoring is only for the “biophilia obsessed” and is not a necessary maintenance aspect, merely a tip from our experience with this natural product.

For large installations, we install the wall in 2-ft by 2-ft panels (either foam core or plywood, depending on the project and client preference) so that damage to any area is easy to repair by simply replacing the 2-ft by 2-ft panel. 

We have yet to need to replace any panels for our clients.  None of our clients have reported any maintenance need nor any damage.  
We recommend recessing the installation space (as is evidenced in the photo below) to as to minimize the temptation to reach out and grab the moss.

However, moss walls are very sturdy and we are happy to report that after nearly a year, the 28-foot long moss wall at HogsheadKC (a busy bar and restaurant) the moss wall is not only intact, it is soft and healthy which is an indication that the air quality in the restaurant is excellent.  

The installation process involves attaching the 2-ft by 2-ft panels to the wall using screws and washers.

We are happy to complete the installation in person or provide clear instructions to the installation team on your end.

We installed the 28-foot long wall in roughly five hours so installation is very simple and speedy.

The Fat Plant Society moss will retain its color for ten to fifteen years, possibly longer.  

We have experimented with our moss by placing it outdoors (though it is not intended for use outdoors, we wanted to put it through the ringer, so to speak) in direct sun so as to determine the speed it will fade and even in direct sun and rain, it retained color with very minimal fading, despite the exceedingly harsh conditions we put it in for testing.  

We are in talks with a company out of Italy to create a spray that will extend the life of moss beyond the projected 15 years.

The Fat Plant Society moss walls and designs do not require maintenance.  
Because the moss is dormant, it does not “live” in dirt, does not need watering and does not need misting of any kind. The moss will remain soft and lush with humidity levels of 45% and higher. When humidity level drops below 35% the moss can become brittle. This is not a danger to the moss or its color, but it is an indication that adding humidity to environment is a good idea so the moss will return to its soft, lush, texture.

Should the wall gather visible dust, it can be “dusted” using compressed air just as one would use on a computer keyboard.  

We are pleased to report that despite the lint producing, white napkins at HogsheadKC, they have not needed to dust the moss wall in 11 months (they will celebrate their one year anniversary in December).

We do not recommend installing a moss wall or frame in a direct, harsh sunlight because it the direct rays of the sun will cause the moss to fade more quickly.  

However, moss wall installations can withstand a few hours sunlight each day, regardless of the exposure.

No.  That is why they are ideal for windowless conference rooms, basements, bathrooms, and other low light or no light areas.

 The Fat Plant Society moss walls run approximately $100 to $150 per square foot depending on the requested backing material and type of moss.  

We recommend reindeer moss for larger moss wall installations because it is the sturdiest of the three types of moss we offer and the most economical option.