MARIMO MOSS BALL


Marimo Moss Balls are one of our very favorite plant discoveries of the last few years. 

Marimo, a Japanese word which literally translates to “seaweed ball” is not a moss at all - they’re actually a rare form of spherical algae. There’s no central stone inside the sphere - it’s solid algae, radiating from the center, growing radially outward at the snail’s pace of just 5mm per year. But in their natural habitats - few freshwater lakes in Japan, Estonia, Iceland, Scotland, and Australia - they’ve been known to grow to between 8 and 12 inches in diameter!
Another reason to love Marimo moss balls is beautiful lore that surrounds these mysterious aquatics. Legend tells of two lovers who desired nothing more than to be together. When their love was forbidden, they fell into the water, and their hearts became Marimo balls. Marimo is said to bring your heart’s desire to both giver and receiver.
And of course, we love Marimo because they live forever. Well, not forever, but easily 100+ years. For this reason, we often joke that Marimo makes wonderful family heirlooms.

Light
Keep your Marimo where they will receive low to medium indirect light. You must protect marimo from the direct rays of the sun, as Marimo can easily turn brown if they are getting direct light! Also, keep in mind that direct sun will be intensified by glass marimo enclosures which can heat water quite quickly. Remember - these guys are native to cool lakes, and should be kept cool.
Marimo is well adapted to low light spaces and can photosynthesize in normal household light. If your space has no window, keep marimo close to a fluorescent or full-spectrum bulb.
Changing the Water
Change the water once every two weeks using regular tap water (for best results, allow water to sit out for 24 hours prior to changing the water). You’ll need to change the water more often in summer, as it will heat and evaporate more quickly. Clean your marimo enclosure with a brush if algae begin to grow on the tank surface.
Browning
If your marimo turn brown, make sure they’re moved to a cooler location with less direct light. They may recover and turn green again on their own. If not, you may add a tiny amount of aquarium ocean salt.

~THANKS FOR SURFING MY BLOG~

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