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Propagating Java Moss on a mesh

kadoxu

kadoxu

Member
Joined
24 May 2016
Messages
1,291
Location
Portugal
Hi,

I want to propagate some Java Moss to get enough to make an underwater tree. I have purchased a small bunch of it, cut it in small(ish) pieces and laid them on a steel mesh suspended inside a propagator.
propagator.jpg

Does the moss need to be in contact with the soil?
Should I spray it with water containing fertilizers? How often?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi Kadoxu, No need for it to touch the soil.The moss will grow over the wire mesh.

When doing my Wabi-Kusa I added a touch of ferts to my spray water. Worked for me 🙂
Looking at the humidity in the propagator. I would mist spray once a week or as needed to keep up the humidity. Remember to have some air flow to stop mould growing 😉
 
Greenfinger2 said:
Looking at the humidity in the propagator. I would mist spray once a week or as needed to keep up the humidity.
Click to expand...
I'm following Andys HC propagator step by step to propagate a few plants I need. The propagator has a 8W heater in the base and it has about 1 or 2 cm of water (not visible in the picture) to keep the soil wet, so I believe humidity should be quite high in there as long as I keep topping up the water. And I have a Chihiros A-Series 601 light with the dimmer at the lower setting just because we don't have that much time at this time of the year.

Greenfinger2 said:
When doing my Wabi-Kusa I added a touch of ferts to my spray water. Worked for me 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you. My main concern was that the Java Moss is not in contact with anything that could provide nutrients. I added a bit of fertilizer to the water in the sprinkler, but wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.

Greenfinger2 said:
Remember to have some air flow to stop mould growing 😉
Click to expand...
I have been removing the lid almost everyday for a few minutes, would that be enough? Or should I leave the vent on the lid a bit open?
 
Funnily enough I've just bought a propagator to have a go at growing Grass.
Getting fed up off replanting in the tank when the fish uproot it.
Good tip about adding a bit off fert to the spray water.
6E77A655-46FF-46D8-AC27-B436A4BE2106_zpsbi5xq6ni.jpg
 
@kadoxu you do not realy need it to have it soaking wet like you have now.. 🙂 It can do with much less, actualy just damp is already enough, but then it is best to put some (transparant) cling foil over the box to prevent it from drying out so soon.. But it might need a daily (half an hour or something) aeration by taking the cover off, to prevent fungus development. But if you start clean, with sterilized soil (heat it in the oven or buy seedling soil) fungus doesn't need to develop.

I open this one once every few days for a few minutes.. It's a few months old now, grows rather slow now in the winter, but it grows. 🙂
DSCF7973 (Kopie).JPG

DSCF7972 (Kopie).JPG

And as Roy says 🙂 it should smell like a lump of moss you find in the forest.. If it smells a bit like a storm drain in the street on low pressure day than it is to wett and rotting. 🙂

Edit, 😳🙄 missed your first pic, now i see you already have a lid.. :thumbup:
 
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zozo said:
@kadoxu you do not realy need it to have it soaking wet like you have now.. 🙂 It can do with much less, actualy just damp is already enough, but then it is best to put some (transparant) cling foil over the box to prevent it from drying out so soon.. But it might need a daily (half an hour or something) aeration by taking the cover off, to prevent fungus development. But if you start clean, with sterilized soil (heat it in the oven or buy seedling soil) fungus doesn't need to develop.

I open this one once every few days for a few minutes.. It's a few months old now, grows rather slow now in the winter, but it grows. 🙂
View attachment 94593

View attachment 94592

And as Roy says 🙂 it should smell like a lump of moss you find in the forest.. If it smells a bit like a storm drain in the street on low pressure day than it is to wett and rotting. 🙂

Edit, 😳🙄 missed your first pic, now i see you already have a lid.. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
Thanks @zozo.

Yes, I had a bit too much water in it, because it has a heater in the base, I was expecting a lot more evaporation to escape from the propagator. After changing the water during the week I used a lot less water.

I don't take the lid off, unless I'm spraying the plants with some fertilised water, because the lid has 3 breathing holes that I now keep open at all times.
 
Wish I'd had success with this, tried and failed a few times, with heated propagator and without :lol:
 
This has been running for 6 weeks now. The growth has been amazing!

Martin in China said:
Seeing this makes me want to start growing plants like this again.... just so nice to see this, well done mate
Click to expand...
Thank you!

Aqua360 said:
Wish I'd had success with this, tried and failed a few times, with heated propagator and without :lol:
Click to expand...
I don't know how you failed to do it... but it's literally the easiest thing I've done lately!

I just turn the light on and off everyday (just because I haven't bothered to buy a timer yet) and once or twice a week I open it and sprinkle a bit of water with just a bit of fertilizers in it.

I'll try to get a pic with an update... it just looks like a proper jungle inside the propagator now... I need more space!!! :lol:
 
That's a very healthy looking propagator. 🙂 Are you dosing any nutrients (aged aquarium water, even..)?

Cheers,

Karthik
 
KarthikC said:
That's a very healthy looking propagator. 🙂 Are you dosing any nutrients (aged aquarium water, even..)?

Cheers,

Karthik
Click to expand...
Thank you. The soil I used is good for plants, but I also spray with water containing a very small dose of fertilizers once or twice a week. This is specially because the Java Moss is not in contact with the soil.

rebel said:
Time to get another propagator......
Click to expand...
I have bought another one last week! :lol:
 
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