About the species

Solenostoma tetragonum 'Pearl Moss' is an unusual liverwort from Borneo with small, round and almost translucent leaves. The shoots grow tightly together into cushions in a deep green tone that gives a quite different texture from the usual aquarium mosses. Its name comes from the pearling oxygen bubbles that gather between the leaves when the plant is happy. Growth is slow and it attaches itself to stone and wood.

Facts

• Latin name: Solenostoma tetragonum 'Pearl Moss'
• Plant type: Moss
• Origin: Asia
• Height: 0.2–5 cm
• Growth rate: Slow
• Position: Wood and stone

Light requirement

High light requirement. It wants a strong light unit and a clear view of the surface — shaded by taller plants it quickly loses its lower leaves. Strong lighting also demands that CO₂ and nutrients stay in balance, otherwise algae take over.

CO₂ & nutrition

Added CO₂ is recommended — Tropica reckons 6–14 mg/l as a medium requirement. The plant can be grown without, but then grows more slowly and loses some of its colour. Supplement with liquid fertiliser weekly and keep iron and potassium levels up.

Planting

Moss should never be planted in the substrate. Spread it in a thin layer over a piece of wood or a stone and secure it with thread, mesh or a few drops of plant glue. A thin layer knits together far more attractively than a thick clump, which easily rots from beneath.

Rinse all the gel off in lukewarm water before planting, otherwise it can cause bacterial cloudiness. The cup holds many small plants — divide them up and plant them in several portions.

Care & propagation

Trim the moss with scissors a few times a year and it holds its shape and grows denser instead of getting long and straggly. Pieces that come loose can be tied onto the next stone — that is all there is to propagating it. Siphon out debris that collects in the moss when you change water.

Position in the aquarium

It grows on hardscape rather than in the substrate, so it can be placed anywhere in the aquarium — on a piece of wood, a stone or a back wall. That makes it as useful in the foreground as high up in the layout.

Difficulty level

🟡 Moderate — wants stable lighting and regular fertilisation to look its best.

Delivery format

Delivered as 1-2-Grow! — a laboratory-grown cup holding many small plants in nutrient gel. Because the plant is cultivated in vitro it is completely free of snails, algae, planaria and pesticides, which makes it the safest choice for a shrimp aquarium.

Recommendation

A collector's plant for the well-tended nano aquarium, at its best alongside Bucephalandra on the same piece of wood. It wants stable conditions and preferably CO₂ — swings in water values show immediately on the fine shoots.