Growing moss emersed. How?

**flyinmysoup** · 12th Jun 2005, 18:51

Hi guys!

I'm new here in AQ and have been reading the Vivarium threads with lots of interest. Never done a vivarium before and I'm just wondering, if I did a scape with driftwood and moss, how do I get the moss I have (taiwan - submersed form) to become its emmersed form? Or is this even a practice?

I've seen people trying to get aquatic plants from emmersed form to being submersed, but not the other way round. Any tips to get this done? Cos' I've got no idea how to obtain good quantities of emmersed moss enough for a scape.

Also, are those mosses frequently available for the aquaria (java, taiwan, X'mas, erect etc) possibly grown emmersed? How would they look like then? Anybody got pics of this?

Pardon me, I'm pretty new with plants in general so please bear with me.

**wong1979** · 12th Jun 2005, 19:04

Simple, just get a tupperware box, poke a few holes on the cover. Next place your moss onto a driftwood, put it into the box and fill in water until its just below the moss. The driftwood will absorb the water thereby keeping the moss moist. Just leave it in shade, no direct sunlight or light needed or risk algae.

**flyinmysoup** · 12th Jun 2005, 19:10

Originally Posted by wong1979

Simple, just get a tupperware box, poke a few holes on the cover. Next place your moss onto a driftwood, put it into the box and fill in water until its just below the moss. The driftwood will absorb the water thereby keeping the moss moist. Just leave it in shade, no direct sunlight or light needed or risk algae.

So after the moss gets attached to the DW, could I bring it out, leave it in the vivarium and it'll spread? How long does it take for the moss to attach itself?

Haha.... know what, my Mom's looking over my shoulders while I was looking at the Vivarium page and she commented that those mosses would look good on the roots of her bonsai.

Just for the heck of it, would it work? Putting submersed moss on the roots of her garden plant and have it grow? I'd reckon a lot of misting would have to be done initially right?

**wong1979** · 12th Jun 2005, 19:34

Probably just need a few days for the moss to convert and attach. As for moss on bonsai roots, possible if its humid enough.

**ranmasatome** · 12th Jun 2005, 20:13

just use sphagnum loh...for the bonsai..

**flyinmysoup** · 12th Jun 2005, 23:49

Originally Posted by ranmasatome

just use sphagnum loh...for the bonsai..

Sphagnum? Isn't that used in gardening? Isn't that a dried form of moss? How do I do it?

**lorba** · 13th Jun 2005, 21:17

to convert moss is very simple. Spread them out on the media such as wood and allow moisture. Maybe water flowing or misty.

After days - a few weeks, you should get them spread.

As long as there is enough moisture to prevent them from drying, you can have them even under bright sunlight. Of course, water in this case better be flowing to prevent temperature build up.

I've tried with many types of moss and non have any problem.