People usually use fine mesh netting like those from fish nets to grow their mosses on rocks. It takes time before the mosses start creeping across the surface of the rock and grow out of the netting. It takes awhile but they will grow out faster with cool water and CO2 injection. Of course initially the netting will look weird but give it time to mature.
Tying mosses or other epiphytic plants to rocks and woods is fairly simple. All you need is a reel of thin fishing line or cotton string. Most people go for thin fishing line since it won't degrade in the tank. Then you spread the moss out and just use the string/fishing line to keep it close to the surface of the wood or rock.
To grow a carpet of "grass" you need some low level fast growing plants like E. tenellus. Just plant them individually into the gravel and let them grow runners out slowly. They will grow faster with a rich substrate that has base fertiliser in it and CO2 injection. During this time you should not keep certain species of fish like Corydoras or cichlids, because they are prone to uprooting these plants.
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