Riccardia Chamedryfolia care guide
Riccardia Chamedryfolia (Riccardia chamedryfolia) — low light, 18-26 °C, pH 5.5-7, no CO2.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Riccardia Chamedryfolia (Riccardia chamedryfolia) is an aquatic plant of the family Aneuraceae, grown as an aquarium plant. A miniature liverwort with intricate branching thalli that resemble tiny green coral formations. Grows extremely slowly but creates incredibly detailed textures on rocks and driftwood, making it highly sought-after for detailed aquascapes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Aneuraceae
- Genus: Riccardia
- Scientific name: Riccardia chamedryfolia
- Common synonyms: Coral Moss, Mini Pellia
Habitat
Riccardia chamedryfolia originates from South-East Asia, where it grows in freshwater marshes, ditches and slow-moving streams, frequently emersed on seasonally flooded ground.
Growth requirements
- Lighting: low
- CO2: not required
- Temperature: 18-26 °C (64-79 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7
- GH: 2-10 °dGH
- Substrate: not applicable (epiphytic attachment to hardscape)
- Maximum height: 3 cm
- Growth rate: slow
- Nutrient demand: low
- Recommended placement: epiphyte on wood or rock
- Typical trim interval: 30 days
Placement
In aquascapes this plant grows as an epiphyte on wood or rock.
Propagation
Propagation is by division of the parent clump; daughter plants are separated once they have formed several leaves and visible roots.
Common issues
Pale or stunted new growth usually signals a nutrient or iron deficiency, while algae on older leaves often follows light that exceeds the available nutrients or CO2; correcting fertilisation and trimming affected parts resolves most cases.
Propagating Riccardia chamedryfolia (Mini Pellia)
Overview
Riccardia chamedryfolia, formally the jagged germanderwort and known to aquarists as Mini Pellia or Coral moss, is a miniature liverwort from the damp forests of South-East Asia. Its intricate branching thalli resemble tiny green coral, and it has been adopted as an ornamental plant for the freshwater planted aquarium. It is prized for the extremely detailed, dense textures it forms on rocks and driftwood.
Tropica lists it with a high light demand, a medium CO2 requirement and a slow growth rate, reaching around 3 to 5+ cm after about two months. It is suited to attachment on hardscape and works well tied to rocks or driftwood.
Propagation Method (Division)
Coral moss is propagated by division: you separate a portion of the clump and tie or glue thin sections onto fresh hardscape. As a liverwort it is anchored mechanically rather than by true roots, so the tie holds it until it knits itself into a dense pad.
Step-by-Step
- Remove a healthy portion of the clump, keeping it submerged throughout.
- Divide it into thin sections rather than thick lumps so the whole portion contacts the surface.
- Tie or glue each thin portion onto clean rock or driftwood.
- Provide good light and CO2 in clean, well-maintained water.
- Wait several weeks, as this slow grower needs time to anchor and fill in.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
- Light: high demand; strong lighting drives its compact, detailed growth.
- CO2: medium requirement (roughly 6-14 mg/L) supports healthy development.
- Water: clean, stable conditions; it can adapt to a variety of water parameters.
- Surface: tied or glued to rocks or driftwood as an epiphytic pad.
Maintenance
The plant is easy to maintain and needs little trimming once established, forming dense compact clusters. Trim lightly to keep the pad neat, and re-tie the removed pieces as new divisions. Keep the water clean so debris does not smother the fine fronds.
Common Challenges
- Very slow establishment: expect a long wait before a new division anchors and fills in.
- Light and CO2 hunger: weak light or low CO2 leads to thin, struggling growth.
- Dirty water: detritus settling into the dense fronds degrades the fine coral texture, so keep water clean.
Propagating Riccardia 'Mini' (Mini Pellia)
Overview
Riccardia chamedryfolia 'Mini', sold as Mini Pellia or Coral Moss, is not a stem plant or a true moss but a liverwort of the family Aneuraceae. As a non-vascular bryophyte it has no true roots or leaves; instead it forms a dense, branching thallus whose growth resembles coral when kept submerged. The 'Mini' form stays compact, making it a prized detail plant for nano layouts.
Because it is slow growing and finicky, propagation is done by physically dividing an established cushion rather than by cutting stems. Patience is the main requirement: a tied portion knits into the surface and thickens over many weeks.
Propagation Method
The reliable method is division. You separate a healthy clump into smaller fragments and secure each thin portion to hardscape so it can re-attach. Like other liverworts and mosses, Riccardia naturally adheres to hard surfaces over time and needs no substrate, so the fragment only has to be held in place until it grips.
Step-by-Step
- Lift a healthy, dark-green cushion and rinse away debris and any algae-infested growth.
- Tease or cut the clump into small fragments with clean scissors.
- Press a thin portion onto wood, rock or a stainless/plastic mesh tile.
- Tie it down with cotton or fine fishing line, or fix it with a tiny dab of cyanoacrylate gel.
- Place the piece under moderate flow and good light and leave it undisturbed.
- After several weeks, once it has gripped and started to thicken, trim back any loose edges.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
Riccardia is the most demanding of the common 'moss-list' plants. It does best with CO2 injection, cooler water and regular, light nutrient dosing. Clean, well-filtered water with stable parameters and moderate flow keeps it firm and coral-like; poor water quality and swings cause liverworts to melt or slowly deteriorate.
- Light: medium and steady; brighter light with CO2 speeds attachment.
- Temperature: cooler end of the tropical range suits it best.
- Flow: gentle, even current to deliver nutrients and prevent detritus traps.
- Water: clean and stable; avoid sudden parameter shifts.
Trimming & Maintenance
Trim infrequently. When a cushion thickens, removing algae-infested or shaded growth and letting clean portions regrow is the simplest way to keep it healthy. Each trimmed-off healthy piece is itself a new division you can attach elsewhere.
Common Challenges
Slow attachment, melting and trapped debris are the usual problems, almost always traced to unstable parameters, dirty water or a portion tied too thickly. Improve flow and water quality, thin the layer, and give it time before disturbing it again.