This rapidly grow aquatic fern flesh a heavy Master of Arts in Teaching on the body of water surface , celebrate algae out and fish glad .
Fairy moss , also foretell weewee fern is not moss but a free - floating aquatic fern . It is a pop accession to water gardens of any size , value for its soft , delicate look and for its dense increment , which forms a dense gym mat that blocks out light below and helps to reduce algae growth . It provides a habitat and intellectual nourishment for Pisces — koi and goldfish like to nibble on the fairy weed fronds . The flora grows into such an impenetrable barrier that it is state to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs , hence its other name , mosquito fern . Fairy moss is a perennial in affectionate climates and is grown as an annual in coolheaded clime . In the tumble , the deciduous leafage turns reddish - purple .
Where to Plant Fairy Moss
Fairy moss needs a dead body of still water such as agarden pondthat is at least 5 to 6 inches mysterious . It wo n’t uprise well in water supply body with strong currents as its tender fronds get damaged . As a floating fern , its roots grow under water and the leafage is on the aerofoil . The plant life should not be fully drown . The location can be in full sun or partial shade . The water should not have high-pitched salt content and be slenderly acidic , neutral , or alkaline .
Because fag moss forms a dense carpet , interplanting it with other non - submerged aquatic plant is not ideal . It is suited as an underplanting beneath tallerwater - garden favorite .
How and When to Plant Fairy Moss
After the last spring frost when daytime temperature are consistently above 59 degrees F , scatter minor bunches of flora on the H2O surface . In the correct water and lightheaded condition and in affectionate weather , poof moss will spread promptly . The only thing you postulate to do after planting is to supervise the water quality and remove excess outgrowth .
Fairy Moss Care Tips
Fairy moss is an easy plant to develop but it is in high spirits care because of its rapid growing , which needs to be hold on in check .
Light
Fairy moss grows fastest in full sunlight ( at least 6 to 8 hours of verbatim light per day ) , but it also acquire in locations with fond sun , sooner in the morning . The less sun it gets , the slow fairy moss grows , which mean it is less efficient at blocking algae and slower to improve pee quality . The low-cal pic also has an impact on the foliation colour . It is hopeful light-green in shade and has attractive purplish - rosebush tints in full sun .
Soil and Water
For this aquatic plant , monitor the water quality is primal . pouf moss needs a pH between 4.5 and 7 and wo n’t do well if the water is too acidic or too alkaline . Regularly testing the piss is also necessary to find whether it want nutritious supplement .
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal temperature range for fairy moss is between 68 to 82 degree F. In warm clime where fairy moss is reliably fearless , you may leave it outside in your water gardens twelvemonth - round . In colder areas , it ’s best to treat it as an annual and only keep it in your pond during the spring and summer .
poof moss needs high relative humidity of 80 to 90 % ; it wo n’t do well in a dry environment .
Fertilizer
The most important main food for faery moss and the one that it is most likely lacking isphosphate . but do n’t add it to your pond water supply without testing the water beforehand . Phosphate can enter water through many different beginning , including fish food , and an exuberant degree of phosphate is detrimental to plant and aquatic life .
Pruning
This is a plant that can double up in size within days . Keeping a snug eye on its growth and removing excess — in warm weather , this might be necessary on a casual foundation — is essential . If it ’s not controlled , it becomes invasive , deprivessubmerged aquatic plantsof light , and clog up filtration system of rules .
Potting and Repotting Fairy Moss
As a loose - be adrift aquatic industrial plant , fairy moss is not desirable to be grown in pots .
Pests and Problems
The plant is free of serious pesterer and diseases and tolerant of rabbits .
How to Propagate Fairy Moss
Thanks to its vigorous and degraded growth , fairy moss is easy to propagate from variance . Do this in ardent atmospheric condition when the works is actively get . Take a section of an exist plant and place it in a newfangled area with suited growing conditions .
Types of Fairy Moss
Eastern Mosquito Fern
Azolla caroliniana , also known as Carolina mosquito fern , is an one-year native aquatic fern less than 1 in tall .
Mexican Mosquito Fern
Azolla mexicanais an aquatic fern native to Mexico , British Columbia , and the westerly United States . It often forms multi - superimposed floating mat . When young , the foliage is bright fleeceable to dingy - unripened and often turns dark-skinned redness or pinkish afterward in the season . It is an yearly or short - lived perennial .
Fairy Moss Companion Plants
Canna
Boldcannasare utter for moist locations and full sun . In their native habitats , canna are often seen growing close to and even in the water , which stool them ideal candidate for landscaping around a pool . zona 7 - 10
Papyrus
Papyrusis an well-off - to - grow water supply plant . It sends out grassy nebulizer of leaves that jut out from the root word like a pyrotechnic display . The damp grime at the edge of a body of water is a perfect location for papyrus . Many common water garden plants are comparatively low growing , so papyrus hold a dramatic focal point — both for its height and texture . Zone 9 - 10
Swamp Lily
Thesenative liliessend out fragrant spidery heyday in shades of livid , pink , and cherry-red in other summertime . Flower stalks come forth above 2 to 5 - foot - tall arching straplike gullible leaves . They flower well in damp soil at the edge of a pond . zona 8 - 11
Frequently Asked Questions
If your climate is too cold for fairy moss to overwinter , withdraw a span of plants in the fall before the first icing and winter them in a saucer of perpetually damp filth in a bright icing - gratuitous area or in an aquarium .
Although the plant is native to tropic and temperate region of North and South America , it can be aggessive due to the expectant floating mats it forms . Another Azolla specie also called fairy moss , however , is much more invasive : Azolla pinnata , also call feathered mosquito fern , is native to Africa , Asia , and Australia and included on the USDA Federal Noxious Weed List .
update by Nadia Hassani
