This can result in the plant losing its anchoring to whatever surface it’s attached to, making for a messy look. If left to grow untamed, Christmas moss will become too dense, causing the fronds that aren’t receiving fresh water anymore to eventually die off. Pruning is an important part of keeping any aquatic moss healthy. With higher amounts of light also comes a higher demand for Co2, which means having a Co2 system running is a big plus if you’d like to grow this moss. Medium light levels will work for Xmas moss, but expect slower growth than if you’d be using brighter lamps. As mentioned, unlike its cousin Java moss, this species doesn’t appreciate being grown in low-light set-ups. The most important factor to keep in mind is light. Christmas moss careĪlthough it’s not the easiest aquatic moss to grow in your aquarium, you should still be able to have Christmas moss thrive just fine with the right care. If no water splashes on the moss, just make sure you spray it daily to keep it nice and moist. The mesh will be visible at first, but it’ll quickly be taken over and look more natural.ĭid you know? If you have a terrarium or vivarium rather than an aquarium, worry not. If you’re looking to create a moss wall or carpet, your best bet is to sandwich the moss between pieces of mesh and put it in place. Initial growth can be a little slow, but once the plant takes off it’ll quickly anchor itself and start sending out new fronds. You can easily attach aquatic mosses to your desired surface using fishing line or super glue. You can opt to leave it free-floating to provide shelter for young fry, but the most decorative option is to attach the moss to walls or hardscape. It’s quite versatile and can be planted in many different ways. Since that’s unfortunately not an option for most of us, comparing photos will have to do.Ĭhristmas moss is a great option if you’re looking to add some extra texture to your aquascape. The best way to identify aquarium moss is to use a microscope. Christmas moss maintained emersed (above the surface) under high light will look very different from Christmas moss grown submersed under low to medium light. This isn’t necessarily the aquarium store’s fault the problem with mosses is that they grow differently in different conditions. What you do have to remember when buying any aquarium moss is that they’re very frequently mislabeled. Xmas moss is more commonly used for moss walls and to cover objects than Java moss, which is often grown in a free-floating state.Xmas moss tends to be a slower grower than Java moss.Xmas moss needs more light to thrive than Java moss.In Java moss, they’re long, narrow and thicker. Xmas moss has broad, short cells with thin walls.Some of the other differences between Christmas moss vs Java moss include: The difference is in the appearance of the fronds: Java moss looks more straight and spindly, while Christmas moss fronds start out wide and taper at the tip, giving that typical Xmas tree look. It’s probably the easiest moss to grow, but it’s not necessarily the best-looking species.īoth Christmas moss and Java moss are hanging moss, meaning their fronds naturally have a straight growth pattern. Christmas moss vs Java mossĪs mentioned, the most common moss available in the aquarium hobby is Java moss, also known as Taxiphyllum barbieri (and sometimes wrongly as Vesicularia dubyana, which is actually the name for a slightly different species commonly known as Singapore moss). In between, it can be found in warm, tropical countries areas India, Indonesia, the Philippines and more. Its natural spread covers areas as far west as the Arab peninsula and as far east as Australia. In some habitats, Xmas moss can also be found forming dense mats that cover the forest floor. Specifically, it usually grows on rocks along riverbanks and streams, receiving the water it needs from the spray and moist air. Scientifically known as Vesicularia montagnei, Christmas moss is a plant in the division Bryophyta, better known as the mosses.Īlthough Christmas moss is grown as an aquarium plant and does perfectly well submerged, it’s actually usually found above the surface in its natural habitat. NameĬhristmas moss, Xmas moss, Vesicularia montagnei The species is appreciated for its denser growth and named after its Christmas tree-shaped fronds. If you’re looking for a moss with better texture to spruce up your aquascape, you might prefer Vesicularia montagnei, better known as Christmas moss. Java moss has a rather sprawly and (depending on the lighting levels) spindly growth pattern. However, the world of moss doesn’t end there! The most common moss is Java moss, which is easy to grow and widely known. As mentioned in our guide on the best aquarium plants, most aquarists are aware of the presence of various types of aquatic mosses that can be grown in our fish tanks.
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