About the species

Weeping moss is recognised by its hanging, teardrop-shaped shoots in a bright green tone that few other mosses come close to. The shoots are fleshy and grow one to three centimetres long, and they grow downwards rather than outwards. The moss is thought to come from China and was spread in the hobby by Oriental Aquarium Plants.

Facts

• Latin name: Vesicularia ferriei 'Weeping Moss'
• Plant type: Moss
• Origin: Asia
• Height: 3–5 cm
• Growth rate: Medium
• Position: Wood and stone

Light requirement

Medium light requirement. Reckon on around 0.5 W per litre or a modern mid-range LED unit. Too little light gives sparse, stretched shoots and pale leaves, while the right amount keeps the plant compact and richly coloured.

CO₂ & nutrition

Manages entirely without added CO₂, which makes it as suitable for a simple aquarium as for an aquascape. Liquid carbon or injected CO₂ speeds up growth but is never a requirement. Dose an all-round fertiliser with iron and micronutrients every week.

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 the portion gently in aquarium water and divide it between several spots — it then covers a considerably larger area than if everything is tied down in one place.

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 a portion of roughly one decilitre from our own cultivation. Because it is grown in our own aquariums it is used to the same conditions it is going to, and it has never been in contact with pesticides.

Recommendation

It looks best on the underside of a branch or on the top edge of a stone, where the shoots can hang freely and give the layout depth. It grows quickly, so trim it a few times a year to keep that weeping shape.