Natural color question

[RyanP]

If I use natural moss and leaves and seal them with 50/50 elmers glue and water, will they lose their color?
Also, Can i use natural evergreens without having to use Never say Dye, or Plant Life Preservative?  If so, How?
Thanks for any input.   Ryan

[RyanP]

Anybody there?

[George Roof]

Natural habitat materials all deteriorate, some faster than others.  Sheet moss does rather well but will yellow.  It can be sprayed with green lacquer to give a better appearance but eventually it, too, will deteriorate.   Sinding artificial foliage that doesn't look fake isn't easy and certainly isn't cheap.  That's why "driftwood" or cedar is so good. Sassafras is another wood that decays very slowly as does cholla wood.  You simply have to pick and choose when using natural materials.

[RB Hunt]

I have had good luck with never say dye and sheet moss.  I dye it in a shallow aluminum tray with a mixture of green and yellow.  It soaks it up well.  I have some that I glued with elmers glue to a tree stump in a habitat for over five years now, and it looks as good as new.  Still a nice bright green.