IMHO if you enjoy growing moss, grow it. If you enjoy growing bonsai, do it. Because of your climate, it's very unlikely you will be successful doing both in the same pot without years of tinkering to see what will work and just where you can do it.

Moss requires different care and environment than most bonsai. Under ideal conditions some talented people get away with keeping moss on bonsai soil, but that has a lot to do with where they live and their experience. In most cases the moss you see on fancy trees is grown and groomed to be placed on the plant only for the photo.

A terrarium in my mind will kill your tree. Too much humidity, no air flow, and no natural light.

You don't seem to be getting the point about them not mixing well even though your moss is going downhill fast or already dead that you have now. I guess you might be like me and must run head on into a brick wall a few times before you finally go through the door everyone has being telling you about all along:-).

Good luck with whatever you do.

randy

If you grow your Fukien in a terrarium, you're asking for big trouble. They are already prone to various kinds of bugs because watering is a bit iffy - they need a lot, but not too much, etc. etc. and terrariums breed bugs, which will kill your tree. Mealy bugs, mildew, mold, anything that likes damp conditions. Air circulation is crucial to your bonsai (whatever you're growing) and terrariums are not the place for them. And listen to Randy - happy moss = unhappy tree, and vice versa.

Ok so I guess the terrarium idea is out of the question and the moss is just going to die and I'm ok with that, but one thing I'm still wondering is when I take my fukin in during the winter what kind of lighting I would need and what would be a cheep route to take to meet the needs of the tree. Also, I would be growing it on my desk to give yall a little visual on how big of a lighting thing I'm looking for or am willing to build. One final thing is that I am looking for something less than $50 dollars or just a little over.

Go to the hardware, ask for a (1'-18" long fluorescent fixture that goes under kitchen cabinets, to light the counters) and get one suitable to rig from hanging chains (at either end of the fixture) over your desk. See if you can find one with either ready-drilled holes at the ends (unlikely), or room between the bulb and fixture to slide a chain through (more likely). Get 1-2 'full spectrum' bulbs, or a 'cool white' and a 'warm white' to fit, of the highest avail. wattage. This will not be ideal, as natural light is going to be much higher, and a larger, stronger fixture would allow you to give it the amount of light it really needs, but you've set the limits here. I'm not sure at all, actually, if adequate bulbs come in short sizes or not.

I use fluorescent lights during the winter to root cuttings and start seed. I have a few 4 foot fixtures with a full spectrum and a grow light in each. They have to be within inches of the leaves to really do any good.

randy

If you have 100 dollars to drop on it I have some good suggestions, I don't think any of the undercabnet deals from hardware stores will do you a lick of good though unfortunately.

Brendan - what suggestions? Cough up so we can all benefit. The kitchen thing was a definite compromise idea, and whatever better you can come up with would be great!

Personally, my trees do fine under flourescents. Here's what I did for a lot of my trees, and theyre doing great.

I got an old computer desk I wasnt using anymore, one of those cheapo things from Wallymart not made of real wood. I got a few long wood screws and a couple metal braces, raised the bottom "foot rest" piece of wood, and used the braces to secure it.

I then purchased some reflective Mylar film from a hydroponics store (about $20 with shipping) and coated the interior of the desk.

At wallymart in the lighting section, I bought three 20-watt, 2-foot fluorescent undercabinet lights (the ordinary ones, not the fake "grow light" ones) and a power strip.

Headed over to a garden store and bought three full-spectrum fluorescent tubes of the proper size and wattage... secured to the top of the desk with two screws and plugged in. good to go!

The fluorescent light is not as strong as the sun or HID, but the advantage is:
1) they are VERY low heat, meaning your bonsai can almost touch it and not be damaged at all.
2) they use VERY little electricity. All three lamps combined use as much elect. as a typical incandescent lamp, and at 900 lumens per bulb, they put out more than a typical fluorescent tube.

The reflective film helps light all sides of the tree, and prevents any light from being wasted. With some velcro dots and a bit of tape, you can seal any openings with the film, and make a removable front panel for maintenance purposes.

Best of all, you can tuck this away in your cellar, or any other convenient place. I have twenty year old bonsais tucked away in these that are doing absolutely fine and show no less vigour or health than outdoor bonsai's. A terrarium is decidedely NOT out of the question.

I use an inexpensive & easy lighting setup for my tropicals. I use at least 2 flourescent shop lights (about $10 each at Lowes or Home Depot) with one warm light & one cool light tube in each. I was told you'll get the same spectrum as the designated grow bulbs at a cheaper cost. I then used pvc pipe & fittings to build a "cube" to hang the lights from. I drilled holes in each fitting after it was assembled & put cotter pins to keep it together. The ten foot sections can be cut to whatever length will fit your trees and room. I cut 6 pipes to 5 foot lengths. Then I used 2 triangular pieces of thin (less than a 1/4 inch) masonite board screwed to a couple of corners to add rigidity. The pipe setup was probably less than $20.

The setup is put in front of a large east window in our lizard room (it's usually around 80-85 degrees in there because of the heat lamps). I set the trees on a table & then put the lights are adjusted till they are about 2 inches above the top of the tallest tree. Smaller trees are set on makeshift platforms of bricks & boards till they are closer to the lights.

I post a picture, but didn't take one last winter.

Bill

Wow yall thinks for the great help and if the little thing works well for my fukin tea I will more than likely get a ficus or something along the lines of that, which would be a very good inside plant all year round.

Lucy,
125 Watt Compact Fluorescent Grow Lights= $69.95
Mogul Socket Assembly= $29.95
then you need a refloctor, that'll be a couple of bucks if you go with a professional aluminum hamertone type, but if you jery rig one out of a couple of wire coat hangers and some mylar it would be alot cheaper.

Brendan - Thanks, but I already have a few areas with special lighting set up, plus those prices in U.S. $$ are going to be higher in Canada! Money was not my issue, I was trying to help someone else.