VERSICULARIA “Christmas Moss” (import)

Christmas moss is considered by many to be an intermediate level moss but not a very complicated plant. As long as there is good water quality and flow it should do just fine. Stagnant or dirty water will not be suitable for this moss and most likely cause it to die out. Although liquid fertilizer or CO2 are not needed, they can be added to accelerate the growth rate as well as promote its health.

Vesicularia montagnei also known as Christmas Tree Moss or Brazilian willow moss and native to Brazil. It’s called Christmas Tree Moss because of its branch structure that look like fir tree branches, and thus the name. It is more demanding than ordinary Java moss and grows more slowly. It attaches readily to roots and stones, and as it spreads in the water.  It needs pruning to keep its shape attractive.

Although it is not very fast-growing, it makes for some amazing carpet moss when used as a vivarium plant in freshwater aquariums.  This moss is considered to be an intermediate level plant when it comes to care and cultivation.  Due to its shallow root structure and unique way of absorbing nutrients, Christmas moss can grow pretty much anywhere. It does not necessarily need any specific substrate to be able to survive. As long as there is a stream of clean water, this moss will find a way to thrive. In the wild it can mostly be seen growing on rocks, branches, tree trunks, or floating around.

It’s a quite impressive moss that can survive in almost all lighting conditions. However, it’s growth rate will definitely be affected by the amount of light this plant receives. Low to medium light will work but will slow the moss’s rate of growth. Christmas moss ideally prefers brighter lights as long as it’s not direct sunlight for long periods of time.

The quickest and easiest way to reproduce Christmas moss will be through division. The original or parent moss should be taken and cut into separate and smaller pieces. Then, simply attach the new pieces to their new location using a fishing line or cotton threads. After a few weeks, the new pieces of moss should attach itself using their rhizoids and begin to grow. To promote further growth and maintain the desired shape, the moss should be periodically trimmed. A good clean-up crew, such as Cherry shrimp, should also help in keeping Christmas moss clean and healthy.

Place of origin: Brazil
Maximum height: 10 cm
Growth rate: Slow
Lighting: All levels, brighter the light, the faster it grows.
CO2: optional
Demands: Intermediate
Position range: Bottom, back, or side of a tank to create a carpet/wall
Type: Planted, Fully Submerged, needs water flow
Substrate: Little to none, attaches to wood and stones
Propagation: Rhizome Division
Temperature range: 18 – 25°C
pH: 5-7.5
Hardness: n/a