Wire frame (buy or make)* Long fiber sphaghum moss Fishing line (clear nylon) Potting soil (if desired for growing plants) Plants (ivy, creeping fig green living moss, or seed of very low growing plants such as Irish moss or Pearlwort ((sagina). I find the traditional ivies or creeping fig do not like my dry house in the winter.)
Process of Stuffing and Planting:
1. Wrap extremities of frame (nose, legs, arms, ears) first. Be sure to weave the nylon fishing line in a way that firmly anchors the moss.
2. Stuff body and anchor with fishing line. Use a weaving type pattern with the fishing line and tie frequent knots to help hold it in place. You must anchor the line around the wire frame so it can't slide off. I usually tie it where two wires cross so it can't slide down just one wire.
3. Continue stuffing and tying until the whole frame is covered. If desired, stuff the body portion of the frame with potting soil so you can grow plants such as ivy or creeping figs. You can ignore this step if you will be seeding the sphaghum moss directly.
TIP: If using a potted plant, take a flower pot of the same size and insert it in the main body of the frame. This reserves space for the plant while you finish stuffing it.
4. I created a topiary elephant this summer which sprayed water on her baby by plumbing the trunk with a piece of black plastic tubing attached to the trunk before covering it with spaghum moss. As you can see, it created a nice scene next to my miniature pond.
5. Plant your frame. Water thoroughly. Use florist pins to pin the various stems of the plant to the frame.
Caring for your topiary
Stuffed topiaries need to be moist at all times. Some use a fungicide to help prevent mildew in this very damp environment. Topiaries usually need to be soaked in water every three or four days. Use a houseplant fertilizer such as 2-2-2 or something similar on a weekly basis to promote good growth. Nutrients quickly leach out of the potting soil in this environment.
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