Christmas Moss: the moss that grows like a fir tree

Christmas moss gets its name from the way its branches grow: they spread in regular tiers and resemble a miniature fir tree. It is the alternative to Java moss when you want a neater, more defined clump, especially on driftwood or rocks that you want to turn into the focal point of the layout.

It is not planted in the substrate. It is tied or glued to a surface and grows slowly, gradually forming a dense, natural-looking green layer. It lives in low light without injected CO₂, although it benefits from light trimming: if the mat becomes too thick, the inner layers lose light, trap detritus and eventually deteriorate.