The preservation of reindeer moss (also known as lichen)

lichen forest

It’s in the heart of Scandinavian landscapes that is harvested the reindeer moss. This reindeer moss is the food supply for reindeers, which are also omnipresent in this region. It is one of the bestsellers of preservation, but also one of the oldest preserved plants.

What does reindeer moss look like before its preservation?

In its natural state, reindeer moss is a very dry and brittle plant.  During its harvest, it is not uncommon to see long hoses being deployed to humidify it. This allows it to be handled in crates and transported without damaging it.

Despite this “dry” appearance, it is also very spongy, like sphagnum moss. The latter originates from the natural peat bogs of Chile, and is used to make exterior green walls. However, in the West, it is used exclusively for indoor green walls.

lichen naturel natural reindeer moss

What is the preservation process of reindeer moss?

Reindeer moss is the only plant that is not preserved with glycerin. It is preserved with salt using the immersion preservation technique. It is immersed in a saline solution (food colouring), then cleaned and dried. Reindeer moss exists in a multitude of colours. From the most daring to the most popular, these different colours can adapt to all types of plant projects.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of reindeer moss?

Unlike glycerin, the saline solution is non-flammable, which gives it a natural fireproof property. Moreover, this process allows a natural treatment against insects. Finally, this technique is cheaper than glycerin immersion preservation, while being able to certify that the plants thus preserved are the most reliable of all. It is the most popular maintenance-free plant wall.

Despite these advantages, below 40% humidity, reindeer moss becomes dry and brittle again. As salt does not work like glycerin, it needs a minimum of surrounding humidity to be able to drink water. Below 40% humidity, salt no longer has enough water to capture. It is not able to retain water molecules as effectively as glycerin would. When the ambient humidity rises, reindeer moss regains its suppleness.

What else?

In addition to being the most reliable of all preserved plants, reindeer moss is now a true decorative element on its own. It is ideal for the construction of plant walls. In particular, it has high-performance acoustic attenuation properties, particularly suitable for public places and open-space offices.

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flowers and plants
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