How to Plant Java Moss in Substrate? (Attachment Guide)

Generally, the Java moss plant doesn’t require any substrate to grow. They will find a way to live and grow exponentially if the water condition is suitable. Due to this quality, Java moss is prevalent in the aquarium setup.

How to Plant Java Moss in Substrate
How to Plant Java Moss in Substrate

Plant java moss on the sandy or rocky substrate and it will start growing around it. Virtually any surface that is strong enough to hold the weight of the plant can become a platform for growth.

Table of Contents

Use plastic mesh to build the carpet to lay down the java moss plant. Tie the plant with thread if you want to grow them vertically.

Place the mesh in the background in a vertical structure and let the plant grow. The background will be converted to the living wall that extends as the days pass. It will give a stunning appearance to the aquarium.

How to Plant Java Moss in Substrate?

There are different methods used to plant java moss in a substrate. Please continue reading to understand what suits them best for growing java moss in the aquarium.

Driftwood

The driftwood method is well known for its beautiful-looking appearance. Driftwood is a particular type of wood found naturally in the sea. The wood washed away on the beaches is collected and treated to clean the trapped bacteria and chemicals.

The final product is then used for the aquarium decorative. Driftwood enhances the beauty of the aquarium and makes it alive.

Before you plant java moss on the driftwood, you need to get the driftwood attached to some heavy object that will hold the wood at a place.

The driftwood is generally hollow inside, and it will start floating on the surface of the plant that is not attached to something. Mount the driftwood on the heavy surface and then put some java moss plant on the driftwood.

Use the mess or thread to place the java moss at the position. That’s it, and the plant will grow automatically without needing further care. It will soon cover the entire driftwood and spread around it, giving you a unique-looking green tree view.

Rock

Decent-sized rock could also become the house of the java moss. The surface of the rock would be sufficient enough to lay down the java moss plant. Use the thread to put the java moss in place.

The entire aquarium will be filled with the java moss plant as soon as it covers the rock. The Java moss plant will take the shape of the stone while growing, making the aquarium appear dazzling.

Mesh

Mesh is the common substrate used for growing java moss. You can even place the mesh vertically, put the java moss on it, and give a wall-like structure to the plant. Require less effort to place the java moss on the mesh and grow the plant the way you want.

Mesh is also strong enough to hold the growing weight of the plant. Once you tie the mesh in the aquarium with the java moss plant on it, it will spread quickly on the mesh and cover the entire mesh in a few days.

Use the mesh to make a java moss bed and lay the plant at the bottom. The plant will grow on the water bed and give you an alluring look at the tank.

Coconut Shell

Take the used coconut shell and cut it in half. The half-spherical surface will become a platform to hold the java moss plant. Fix the moss plant on the Coconut shell and put them at the bottom of the tank.

Make multiple numbers of coconut shell surfaces to add more depth to the view. Coconut shells are non-reactive to the water so that you can use them without any worry.

Using coconut shell with java moss gives an appealing view to the tank. Fish would find the aquarium more enticing, and they would enjoy the water.

Does Java Moss Float or Sink?

Java moss doesn’t grow with the roots or trunk that adds weight to the plant; thus, java moss free-float on the surface.

Growing java moss that reaches significant weight over time may start sinking in the tank. Java moss sinking is rare, but the plant may tank down if its weight is high enough.

Does Java Moss Need Substrate?

No. Java moss is one of the plants that grow on any surface. Even you can put them free-floating in the tank, and they will keep growing.

With a high tolerance rate, the plant can survive in the changing environment as well. It can also deal with fluctuating temperature of the aquarium.

Attach any substrate to the plant, and it will contribute to the growth of the plant. The substrate is only required when you want to give a particular shape to the plant.

Once you place the java moss on the substrate, it starts occupying the substrate’s surface, getting itself into the shape of the substrate.

Java moss plant grows from the stem, and they do not have roots; therefore, it is impossible to harm the java moss.

Because of its unique characteristics, java moss has gained popularity in freshwater aquarists. It will enhance the experience of the aquarium when the java moss grows on the substrate and occupy the space.

How to Attached Java Moss on Driftwood?

There are several methods to attach the java moss to driftwood. The proper placement is vital to keep the plant at the right place, and it will start floating in the water and make the tank look awful.

The simple methods and prior preparation would keep the plant in place. You can anchor the plant with string, rocks, or mess on the driftwood or even use a particular type of aquarium glue to fix the plan at the place.

Due to its lightweight and trapped air in the stem, the plant starts floating as soon as it is detached from the platform. Though you should fix them so that they will stay at the place, even the plant proliferates.

Tying using Knots

Use the aquarium string to tie the plant to the driftwood. Attach it like the algae to glass. The aquarium thread automatically dissolves in the water. By the time it dissolves completely, the java moss would have occupied the space, and it would have a perfect grip on the plant.

Super Glue

Choose aquarium-safe super Glue for fixing the java moss on the driftwood. Tie the java moss with the help of the super glue. It will put the plant in place, and there will be no chance for to plant to float.

Apply the few tiny dabs of glue to wood, quickly place the center of the moss to it, and hold for a while until it is dried thoroughly. If you attach a large piece of the java moss, then fix the plant to multiple places to give it a perfect grip on the driftwood.

How Long Does It Take for Java Moss to Attach on Driftwood?

Once you fix the java moss to the driftwood, it will start growing and cover the entire wood in few days. Since attaching process occurs naturally, it may take 3 to 4 weeks to attach to driftwood.

What glue do you use for Java Moss Attach Driftwood?

Get any super glue you find on the market. Use few drops of it to fix the stem of the java moss on the driftwood.

There are special glues available only to fix the Java moss plant in the aquarium. These glues are not available everywhere. You might not find it in your region. Check with your local aquarium store if they have safe aquarium glue with them.

How to Glue Apply Java Moss to Driftwood?

Fixing the java moss plant with glue is relatively easy. However, preparation is needed for better results. Begin with cleaning the driftwood with clean water. After that, let it dry out completely.

Once the wood is dried, use the knife or blade to cut some portion of the wood. User super glue that sticks to the surface quickly. Apply the glue on the wood and hold the Java moss center or stem on the glue for seconds.

Be careful while handling the super glue. It may stick to your hand as well. Place the setup carefully in the aquarium once the java moss plant is fully attached to the driftwood.

Do not worry if any of the sides get removed during the setup. Put more glue and fix the java moss back to the place.

Does Super Glue Kill Java Moss?

Yes. Super glue is made of a highly hazardous substance that may kill the area where the adhesive is applied. However, the plant will survive damage and grow comfortably.

It is worth using glue instead of any other substrate. Java moss plants do not have roots, though they can grow exponentially.

How Do I Install Java Moss on Rock?

There are many ways you can install java moss on the rock. One of the standard methods that are widely used by aquarists is fixing the java moss with glue.

Another way is using thread or rope to tie the moss plant at the place. Java moss quickly adopts the new surface and occupying the space.

However, you can use any method to keep the java moss in place for few weeks. Within 2 to 3 weeks, the most would have occupied a significant amount of rock, covering the entire rock with freshly grown leaves.

Can I Super Glue Apply Java Moss Attach to Rocks?

Yes. You can use super glue to attach the java moss to the rocks. Clean the rock thoroughly before fixing the java moss. Dry the rock completely. The wet surface will now allow the glue to stick; thus, it is essential to dry the rock.

Once the rock is arid, apply few dabs of the glue and hold the java moss plant on the rock for few seconds. The glue will get fixed in few seconds, and it will keep the java moss in place. If the rock is large, fix the plant in multiple locations.

How Do I Attach Java Moss to Mesh?

Get the mesh and put the java moss plant on the surface. Spread it evenly so it will have a chance to cover the entire mesh as it grows. Use the cotton thread or any other thread that decomposes in water naturally.

Now you are ready to put the mesh in the tank. You can either place it at the bottom to create a java moss bed or fix them in the back to build the wall. In both cases, the java moss plan will start growing without any trouble.

Can I Use Super Glue Underwater?

Yes. There is a particular type of aquarium glue available in the store that you can use to glue any substance underwater. Ensure that you choose only superglue in the form of a gel.

It should get dry extremely fast, and the glue will react with the water, and the object attached to it will get separated from the substrate. Consult with the local aquarist to find if they have water-resistant super glue for the aquarium.

Can I Use Super Glue in a Fish Tank?

Super glue is safe to use in the aquarium. Super glue is made using Cyanoacrylate. When the substance comes in contact with the water, it forms a strong bond. The glue gets dry instantly, so there will be no chance to react or spread lethal chemicals in the water.

How to Attached Java Moss on Coconut Shell?

There are several ways you can fix the java moss on the coconut shell. Use the glue to fix the java moss plant on the surface of the Coconut shell or tie the moss with the help of a string. Another solution is using cotton.

Glue the cotton on the coconut shell and place the java moss on the cotton, easily attached to the cotton. As the java moss grows, it will take a circular shape and appear like a moss ball.

Conclusion

With the use of different methods, you can grow java moss on any substrate. The primary objective of the substrates is to provide support to the plant until it occupies space.

Once the java moss-grown at a decent size, it will start developing freely. Use the given methods and make your aquarium flourish with the java moss plant.

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.