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

Peacock moss is a popular aquatic plant that grows slowly in the water. Its fronds have rhizoids, which help it stabilize the substrate.

It is said to have spiritual significance, and ancient Zoroastrians used peacocks to sanctify the dead. Though this aquatic plant is not a hardy species, it can be used in aquascapes for a subtle, natural look.

How to Plant Peacock Moss in Substrate
How to Plant Peacock Moss in Substrate

Table of Contents

How to Plant Peacock moss in the substrate?

To plant peacock moss in your aquarium, start by creating a hole in the substrate. You can use driftwood, rocks, or peacock moss itself.

The fronds will attach themselves to the rocks and driftwood naturally. Then, cover it with another sheet of the fine substrate. It will need to have a strong root system for it to grow well.

The plant is small and spreads slowly over the substrate. It has roots-like appendages called rhizoids, which help stabilize the substrate.

Peacock moss was once used by the Zoroastrians as a symbol of sanctity. Despite being an aquatic plant, it is considered a low-maintenance choice. The roots are very shallow and do not interfere with the plant’s growth.

It is an excellent plant for low-tech planted tanks. Its compact growth makes it easy to plant in a variety of locations. It can be attached to rocks and driftwood and will look beautiful as a background. The rhizoids help the moss stabilize itself.

What substrate is best for Peacock moss?

When it comes to the substrate, Peacock moss is a very dense moss that grows large by branching. It spreads by developing layers of leaves and can fill gaps in the substrate.

It does not attach itself to layout materials well, so you can use Riccia Line to attach it to rocks or driftwood. This is one of the easiest plants to grow. You can also tie it to rock surfaces to create a moss carpet.

How long does it take for Peacock moss to attach?

Peacock moss is easily attached to the substrate. It requires no special care, although it should be secured to the substrate using a superglue or suction cup.

It will be best to choose a fish-friendly type of thread to avoid hurting the fish. After a week or two, the moss will start growing. Then, you will need to trim it every so often.

What is the best way to grow Peacock moss?

If you’d like to grow Peacock moss in an aquarium, the first step is to set up a filter. The filter will provide the current necessary for the moss to grow, and it will also distribute nutrients in the water.

The best way to set up a filter is one that provides a weak current. Strong current will break up the roots and may even clog the filter, so be sure to install a filter that provides the right amount of current.

Using a fishing line or black thread for attachment will allow the spores to grow on their own without damaging the other plants or the fish.

Unlike other aquatic plants, moss is an excellent choice for any aquarium. Once established, it can be pruned to fit any shape you want.

Just be careful not to move the fronds too much, though. The moss is prone to algae growth, and if you disturb it with a toothbrush or other object, it can break off and become a mess.

What is the best fish-friendly way to attach Peacock moss to the substrate?

The best way to attach Peacock moss to your aquarium’s substrate is to weave it through the aquarium’s net. Be sure to choose a fishing line or black thread that will dissolve over time.

This is especially important for the moss because cotton threads tend to get chewed up by fish. It is also better to use threads that are friendly to fish.

The best way to attach Peacock moss to your substrate is to place it at the center of the tank. This will allow the fronds to grow freely. However, it is also a bad idea to place it too deeply.

Does Peacock moss float or sink?

Peacock Moss can be free-floating or attached to a hardscape. The peacock moss is tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Once it gains weight due to growth, it may settle down in the tank.

How Can I Plant Peacock moss in the substrate?

If you have a planted tank, you can easily add peacock moss to it. The only thing you need to do is prepare the substrate for it.

  • It must be fine and free of metals, stones, and other materials.
  • You can also add one teaspoon of fertilizer to it.
  • The fern will attach itself to the surface of the substrate and grows on its own.
  • You should water it at least once a week to prevent it from wilting.
  • Make sure not to drown the plant with water, as it is shallow-rooted.
  • As a tropical plant, peacock ferns grow well in any type of aquarium.

How do I prepare driftwood to plant Peacock moss?

  • To start planting peacock moss on driftwood, prepare the wood by washing it with a hose or dipping it in a bucket of water.
  • It is best to place the weed mat in thin layers on the top and around the base of the driftwood.
  • If you plan on planting a large quantity of a single variety, you should tie the moss in place with linen or cotton.
  • To keep the moss compact, tie it off to the wood with a piece of string or rope.

If you have driftwood that is too old to use, you can sand and clean it. However, it is best to make sure that the wood doesn’t have any chemical additives on it.

Bleach and other chemicals are not recommended for this. You can also use a wood preservative to preserve the driftwood. Then, plant your Peacock moss on it!

Can I anchor Peacock moss?

The plant can be anchored to a rock or driftwood to provide a base for it to grow. It can also be tied to a peacock moss mat to create a peacock moss tree.

It is best planted loosely to avoid spreading it over the tank’s surface. To anchor it to a surface, tie it to a small piece of yarn, preferably a piece of wood.

Can Peacock moss attach to fabric?

The answer is a resounding “yes.” The plant is extremely versatile and can be woven into the weave of your favorite fabric or placed between two pieces to form a wavy border.

The fully developed leaf is a triangular shape. It can be attached to the surface of the fabric or to another piece of decor.

What is the best glue to attach Peacock moss?

Moss is often difficult to adhere to wooden substrates or any other surface, so it is essential to use the best glue to attach it to your aquarium.

Most experts recommend using superglue, but you may also use a fishing line, which is also very effective. Just make sure to keep the clump small, as you will risk getting excess glue on your tweezers. If it is too large, it will not be able to grow to its fullest potential.

Superglue works well for mosses, too, but it takes a bit more practice. But the advantage of using it is that it allows more precision planting, and it is faster than using other methods.

When choosing glue, be sure to look for one made of ethyl cyanoacrylate. While it will leave white glue marks on your hardscape, they will fade away over time.

How to apply glue to attach Peacock moss?

Clean the surface of the driftwood or the rock and then dry it. Once it is dried, cut some part of the surface and apply glue to it. Then stick the moss on the glue and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Can I attach Peacock moss without glue?

Yes, you can try using superglue instead. This glue is ethyl cyanoacrylate, which is a gel-type adhesive. It is also fast and more precise, but it leaves a white residue on your hardscape that’s difficult to remove.

While the moss will grow over time, you should scrape it off manually to prevent any damage.

Best practices & Bad practices of planting Weeping Moss on Substrate

Weeping moss is an easy plant to grow, but you need to be aware of its needs before planting it. It likes moist conditions and light, so keep the substrate wet.

This will help the moss grow more quickly and will look better. This plant is native to Asia, Europe, and China and is commonly used in freshwater ponds. It grows well in the lower 60’s F and prefers a slightly warmer climate than its species counterparts.

The best way to plant moss is by completely submerging it in low pH freshwater. This way, it doesn’t require additional CO2 and can grow in any kind of tank. It should not be placed in water that is stagnant, and it needs current to propagate.

If you want to provide high humidity, you can use a fogger. This will keep the humidity at high levels, which will encourage the moss to grow.

While the moss will grow slowly in the first few weeks, it will grow faster once it gets accustomed to the tank’s temperature and moisture levels. It may need to be pruned or trimmed periodically to keep its growth steady.

In some cases, it will need to be staked in the aquarium, so it will not collapse. But if the roots are already in place, this should be no problem.

Its root system is not shallow enough for the plant to thrive. It should be attached to rocks, stones, or short snags. However, you should be careful not to overplant it.

Depending on its size, it can become invasive. For this reason, it’s not a good idea to plant too much moss. If you’re worried about attracting insects, don’t plant it on a gravelly substrate.

Weeping moss is a tough plant. It will thrive in a wide range of lighting and water conditions. As a result, it’s easy to care for. It can tolerate any temperature but prefers 71-75degF.

It’s best kept in the dark, cool, or dark place. But, if you don’t like the shade, don’t plant it in the corner.

When a newly-planted Weeping moss is first planted, it will grow slowly until it has acclimated to its new home. Trimming the ends of its shoots will encourage new growth.

This practice should also be avoided if you want your moss to grow well. In addition, weeping moss will produce downward-sloping growth. Regardless of the size, weeping mud will quickly occupy the entire tank.

Conclusion

Peacock Moss grows densely and spreads horizontally when emersed. When growing vertically, its leaves are thin and triangular in shape. In addition, peacock moss spreads quickly by branching and developing multiple layers of leaves.

In an aquarium, it is a beautiful green carpet that makes a beautiful backdrop in any aquascape. It also requires little maintenance and will grow fast and thick in your aquarium.

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.