Why is My Christmas Moss Turning Brown?

The Christmas Moss or the Christmas tree Moss is a greenly looking beautiful plant which is around

03 to 04 inches tall in size and has a beautiful structure of branches and tiny leaves as in a Christmas tree. This plant is given its name as the look on it is similar to that of a Christmas tree.

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This plant has a slower growth rate compared to the other types of mosses but will spread covering a larger area of space with time.

Christmas Moss Turning Brown
Christmas Moss Turning Brown Image Source

These plants grow on wet surfaces which receives a bright amount of light such as Forest trees, nearby to rivers, streams and even rocks.

With the beautiful look in these plants they have been coming to today’s Aquascaping world and is mostly used by Aquarists in the fish tanks and aquariums all around the world.

Why is My Christmas Moss Turning Brown?

The Christmas Moss plant like other plants in the tank or Aquarium can change brown in colour due to various reasons. The Basic reason for the Christmas Moss to change its colour into brown is when the minimum care needed by these plants are not given to them.

You can identify this brown color in the Christmas Moss when its frons die off from the inside out.

However we can take certain precautionary measures to make them change back in to its green and glamorous look again.

Main reasons for the Christmas Moss turning Brown

The main reasons for the Christmas Moss Turning Brown in colour will mainly happen due to the following reasons,

Lack of Trimming

The Christmas Moss requires a regular trimming to stay in its shape and colour. A short and light Christmas Moss plant will do well and remain healthy within the tank.

When there is a lack of trimming in the plant the wide spread branches will be too heavy for the stems of the plant to hold on and will fall off from whatever they are attached to.

Lack of Nutrients

Insufficient Nutrients on the plant is another factor affecting the brown colour change in the Christmas Moss.

If you feel that the plant is in it receiving the sufficient amount of nutrients naturally, you can add a certain amount of CO 2 and fertilizer to the Christmas Moss plants within the tank.

Changes in the Water Consistency

a Change in the water consistency will also affect the Christmas Moss to change in colour. This might at times occur at the initial stage after purchase. The plant will face a sudden water change from its previous.

Also these plants cannot hold themselves in brackish or salt waters. So these factors should also be taken into consideration.

Lack of Water Flow

The Christmas Moss does well and can grow itself when there is a flow of water within the tank. So when there isn’t a sufficient water flow for these plants they tend to change in colour to brown.

Too much of Light received on the plant

The Christmas Moss requires a bright amount of light to grow. But when there is too much of light then there is a problem. Too much of light is a cause for the Christmas Moss to change its colour into brown and even die.

The Christmas Moss requires a bright amount of light to grow. But when there is too much of light then there is a problem. Too much of light is a cause for the Christmas Moss to change its colour into brown and even die.

Can Brown Christmas Moss turn green again?

Yes, the Brown Christmas Moss can turn back into green again. The proper maintenance and the care should be given on them so that they can easily get back into their colour again.

But at certain times if this care is not given within the right time and the colour change has gone too far then the plant cannot be turned back in to its natural colour again.

How can I turn back my Brown Christmas Moss into Green Again?

Certain Small steps such as,

  • Giving a proper grooming to the plant
  • Providing Good Nutrition to the plant
  • Placing the Plant close to a place where there is a flow of water within the tank
  • Providing only the required amount of light for the plant to grow , can help the Christmas Moss to get back in to good health and also have a beautiful green look.

Is Brown Christmas Moss bad for Aquarium tanks?

No, A Brown Christmas Moss will not always be bad for the Aquarium Tanks. A good care given on these plants can have a healthy plant as well as a healthy tank.

However at times when these Brown Christmas Mosses lie within the tank for a longer period of time without taking the necessary actions for them to change back in colour then there will be a problem.

Having a Brown Christmas Moss in the tank without a proper care will make the plant to decay and die spreading out toxins to the tank which will be both harmful to the tank, tank mates and the other Aquatic plants in your tank.

Is Brown Christmas Moss harmful for other plants in my Aquarium?

A Brown Christmas Moss will not harm on the Aquatic plants in the Aquarium.

However if they start to melt and decay within the tank after turning brown in colour then it would be a situation in which you will have to give your concerns into.

A decaying Christmas Moss will produce toxins into the tank which might affect the other Aquatic plants in the tank.

Is Brown Christmas Moss bad for Fish?

A Brown Christmas will always not be dead, therefore a Brown Christmas Moss will not always be bad on the fish in your tank.

Can Brown Christmas Moss die?

A Brown Christmas Moss shows that plant is starting to die, however if you take measures to prevent this situation and provide the plant with the proper amount of light, proper trimming ,proper nutrition and a proper water flow the plant will overcome its brown colour and turn back in to green again.

But if you do not give the plant its proper requirements then your brown Christmas moss will start to die.

Conclusion

A Brown Christmas Moss is the first sign that indicates that your Christmas Moss is starting to die, therefore identifying this at the initial stage and taking precautionary measured to get back the plant back in to its green colour and much more healthier will help you to save your time as well as your money.

By Uswatta Liyanage

Hello. I'm Uswatta Liyanage from Galle, Sri Lanka. I am the founder of this website. Since my childhood I'm an aqua plant lover and I have professionally learned more about aqua plants. So I created this site for share my knowledge and experience with all of you. Now you can refer my site and feel free to contact me if any inquiry.