What happens if you spray water on a preserved moss wall?

If you spray water on preserved moss, the glycerine and natural minerals in its structure are washed out. This causes the moss to dry out prematurely, stiffen and lose its colour. That is why any contact with water must be strictly avoided.

My moss art has gone stiff — what should I do?

When relative humidity drops below 35%, moss fibres can naturally stiffen. Place a humidifier in the room or ventilate it regularly to bring humidity up to 45–50%, and the fibres will draw moisture from the air and return to their velvety softness within a few hours.

How do you dust a moss wall?

Moss is antistatic and doesn't collect dust under normal conditions. If needed, it can be gently brushed once or twice a year with a soft makeup brush, or aired from a distance with a hairdryer on its lowest 'cool air' setting.

Moss Wall Care: Everything You Need to Know

The biggest appeal of preserved moss walls and art panels is the promise of "zero maintenance". You never have to repot, prune, water or feed them. But that doesn't mean moss follows no rules at all.

When you provide the right indoor conditions, your Eliva Moss panels keep their form, softness and vivid emerald tone for 7 to 10 years, just like on day one. Here are the golden rules for maximising the life of your moss art or moss wall.

Rule 1: Never Water or Mist It

The number one rule of preserved moss care is this: Never let it come into contact with water.

People used to caring for living plants may sometimes feel the urge to mist the leaves. But the cells of preserved moss contain special natural glycerine and minerals instead of water. When you spray water on it, the water dissolves this protective glycerine and washes it out, causing the fibres to stiffen and the colour to dull.

Rule 2: Maintain Ideal Room Humidity (40%–70%)

Preserved moss interacts directly with the relative humidity of the surrounding air:

Normal & Ideal Conditions (40%–70%): The same humidity recommended for a healthy human living space. The moss is velvety, soft and supple.
Very Dry Air (below 35%): In winter, when radiators run hot or air conditioning dries the air too much, moss fibres can lose moisture, stiffen slightly and feel crisp to the touch. Don't panic! And never spray water. Ventilate the room or run a simple humidifier; the moss will absorb moisture from the air and soften again on its own within a few hours.
Very High Humidity (above 80%): Placing it in very wet areas, such as right next to a shower cubicle in a bathroom, is not recommended, as the moss could stay damp for long periods.

Rule 3: Protect It from Harsh Direct Sunlight

Because preserved plants don't photosynthesise, they need no daylight. On the contrary, intense direct UV rays through a window can weaken the organic colour pigments over time. So it's best to hang your piece on interior walls or in filtered light rather than next to a window that gets the midday sun.

Rule 4: Keep It Away from Heat Sources

For lasting softness, position your moss wall or moss art at least 1–1.5 metres away from:

Directly above active radiators
Split air-conditioner vents blowing hot air directly
Open fireplaces or heaters

5. Cleaning: How to Remove Dust

Because Eliva Moss products undergo natural mineral treatment, they are antistatic: they don't build up static electricity and don't attract dust. Still, for general household dust you can give them a little care once or twice a year:

Lightly sweep the surface with a soft dusting brush (for example, a soft makeup brush or a camel-hair brush).
Set your hairdryer to "cool air only" at the lowest speed and air it gently from 30 cm away. Never use hot air.

To see our ready-made, maintenance-free collection, take a look at our Preserved Moss Panel page, or send any questions directly to our architect.