Why does moss grow on the northside of trees

There are over 1, in the UK, and some have global significance. What side of the tree does moss grow on? Natural navigation. Why does moss prefer the north side of trees? All moss cells need access to water from the environment. They need water to reproduce. The male reproductive cells need to move via a film of water to reach the female cells for fertilisation. Sometimes this is within one plant but can also require them to reach another plant, depending on the species.

If mosses dry out they are unable to reproduce, which is more likely to happen on the sunnier side of trees. What causes moss to grow on trees? Water is also essential for mosses to reproduce. Because of this, moss can grow anywhere that it is wet enough.

Trees, in particular, provide a good growing surface because tree bark typically has a lot of grooves and crevices, which are good places for moss spores to take root, the Woodland Trust reports.

Plus, not many other plants can grow on a vertical surface like a tree trunk, so they don't have to compete for growing space.

Mosses use trees and other surfaces simply as a foundation to grow, according to the Extension. They don't siphon off water or nutrients from their hosts, so they can grow on them without causing any harm. Stay up-to-date on the happenings in Will County's forest preserves by subscribing to The Citizen , our weekly digital newsletter that provides subscribers with updates on Forest Preserve news, upcoming events, and other fun and useful information for the whole family.

If you're only interested in programs, subscribe to The Weekly Five , which outlines the five must-do programs each week. The answer is no. Moss can also hold rainwater like a sponge. Just wring it out into a container, disinfecting it before drinking the water, just to be safe.

Moss is astringent, allowing it to be a workable wound bandage just keep it on the surface; never pack a wound with it. Dried moss is also absorptive, making it a great filling material for homemade baby diapers and menstrual pads. Just make your desired item from cloth, leaving an opening to fill the pad or pants with dried moss. Then wash the cloth, refill it, and repeat. In Inexpensive Tree Care Blog. What side of the tree does moss grow on? Seems like an odd question at first, yeah?

Plants and Sunlight Most plants grow toward the sunlight. Moss, however, is a little different. Mental Floss has a good piece on this subject.