Mini Christmas Moss Care Guide
Mini Christmas Moss is a smaller form of Vesicularia montagnei with shorter side-branches, producing tighter moss walls and trees.
Overview
Christmas moss, Vesicularia montagnei, is an ornamental aquatic moss of the family Hypnaceae named for its triangular, fern-like fronds. The 'Mini' selection has shorter side-branches, producing tighter and more refined moss walls and trees.
Taxonomy
- Family: Hypnaceae
- Genus: Vesicularia
- Scientific name: Vesicularia montagnei 'Mini'
- Common name: Christmas moss
Habitat
Vesicularia montagnei has a wide range across Asia and beyond, recorded from Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Sudan and Vietnam. In nature it grows in damp situations on rocks and tree trunks.
Aquarium requirements
- Temperature: 18-28 °C (64-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 2-14 °dGH
- Lighting: low to moderate
- CO2: not required, but improves growth and colour
- Placement: epiphyte (on hardscape)
- Maximum height: about 8 cm
The moss tolerates a wide range of conditions and prefers cooler, gently flowing water. It grows under low to moderate light; CO2 injection yields denser growth and better colour but is not required. It adapts to both soft and harder water.
Care and growth
Growth rate is slow, which makes the refined 'Mini' form easy to keep tidy. It is attached to driftwood, rocks or mesh and trimmed periodically to maintain shape.
Propagation
Christmas moss propagates by division. A clump is split and re-attached to hardscape, where it gradually spreads to cover the surface.