Portable Stuffed Topiary Construction
Select Frame
 | Store bought or homemade |
| Frame size
 | Small figures dry out faster than large ones. |
| Small figures need finer textured plants. |
| Skinny, tall, and/or hanging figures dry out quicker. |
|
Stuffing the Frame
| Soak the long-fibered sphagnum moss* in warm water until saturated (about 5-30 minutes). |
| Squeeze extra water from the moss. Starting at the base of the frame, fill the
extremities first (such as the legs, arms, tail). Use handfuls of moss and pack the moss
firmly in place. |
| Tie fishing line (monofilament, clear, 12 - 14 lbs. test) to the wire frame. Wrap line
around the stuffed frame. Keep adding the moss to cover all exposed wire. Tie off fishing
line often and wrap in sections such as a leg, ear, tail,... etc. |
| Pull fishing line tight enough that it disappears into the moss, but not so hard that it
breaks. |
| Trim off excess moss with scissors to give form a tidy appearance. |
Planting the Topiary
| Stuff and wrap all extremities first. Stuff body or torso last and wrap with fishing
line. Plant only in the largest area of the form, usually in the body or torso. |
| Several small "plugs" can be layered into the body by packing moss around each
plantlet. |
| One or two larger plants can be planted into the middle of the body. Remove pot and
rinse the soil off of the roots by dipping the root ball into a bucket of water. Try to
leave on as much soil as possible. |
| Make an opening with a plant dibbler or scissors by pushing the moss and fishing line to
the side. |
| Place plant into opening and add moss to "backfill" around the root ball. The
plant can be secured either by inserting a few wire pins near the plant roots or by
wrapping the planted area with fishing line. Be careful not to damage or pinch the plant
runners. Pin down runners with florist wire (21 gage) bent into "U" shaped pins.
Do not pinch stem or poke holes through the leaves. Pinch the growing tips of the runners
to promote good branching. |
Care
| Soak about I to 2 times per week by completely submersing in a tub of water (bucket,
storage tub, garbage can, laundry tub, kitchen sink, shower) or by soaking with a garden
hose outside. It is important to get the water to the center of the figure, misting is not
adequate. Frequency of watering will depend on size of the topiary, location and plant
material. As the figure begins to dry, it will become very fight. Remember, it is very
hard to over-water these topiaries. Most die from under-watering. |
| Fertilize I to 2 times a month with a liquid fertilizer added to the soaking water. |
| As the plant grows, additional pinning of the runners will be needed. As the figure
becomes covered, give "haircuts" with scissors to maintain shape and neat
appearance. |
Winter Treatment
| As Fall approaches, you need to decide if you want to bring your topiary indoors. |
| If you wish to bring it in, it should be treated like any other house plant. But prior
to bringing it in, it might be necessary to treat for insects. Spray with an
appliation of 1 tbs vegetable oil, 1 tsp mild liquid dish soap mixed well with 1 quart
water or purchase "Safer Soap" (READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS) to remove any
bugs that might be living in or on the topiary. |
| If you do not want to over winter the topiary, remove any plant material and place the
topiary with moss still intact, in a dry location during the winter. Next spring, re-wet
the figure by soaking in a bucket or tub of water until the moss becomes soft (it may take
up to 30 minutes). This is a good time to repair any exposed wire with a layer of new moss
held on with fishing line. Replant with any annuals or perennials that would be
appropriate for your figure. |
*It is recommended for gardeners to wear rubber gloves when handling sphagnum moss or
any other plant/soil components. The moss and other plant/soil components may contain the
spotrichosis fungus or other undesirable fungii. The fungus could enter through an open
wound or cut during handling and cause a treatable, but nonetheless undesirable skin
infection.
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