Growing and caring for azolla filiculoides

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WildFins
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Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:49 pm

Growing and caring for azolla filiculoides

Post by WildFins »

I'm curious about Azolla filiculoides - also known as Fairy Moss or Mosquito ferns. Can anyone share some insights about this plant?
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Lachlan
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Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2023 5:22 am

Re: Growing and caring for azolla filiculoides

Post by Lachlan »

I'm no expert, but I dug up some info on Fairy Moss and Mosquito ferns.

Fairy Moss seems to be a pretty hardy plant - it grows fast and can handle a range of temperatures and pH levels. I found this care guide that might be helpful: Fairy Moss Care Guide – Planting, Growing, and Propagation.

As for Mosquito fern, it's actually a type of aquatic fern that floats on the surface of still waters. There's a bunch of info on it here: Mosquito fern | Description, Uses, & Facts. Apparently, it's part of the genus Azolla and is found in tropical regions.
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cichlidgirl22
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Re: Growing and caring for azolla filiculoides

Post by cichlidgirl22 »

I've had some experience with Azolla filiculoides, and I've found that it doesn't handle shipping in the heat very well. To be honest, I'm also not a huge fan of its appearance - it doesn't really do it for me, visually speaking.
MrCockroach
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:23 pm

Re: Growing and caring for azolla filiculoides

Post by MrCockroach »

One of the good things about Azolla filiculoides is that it doesn't have those pesky invasive roots. It's actually pretty easy to keep contained, way more so than duckweed. Plus, it's a great source of denitrification for your tank. If you're looking for something similar, Ricciocarpus natans is another good option - it's a floating liverwort that shares some of the same benefits. Both of these plants can spread quickly, but they don't cause the same kind of trouble that duckweed can.
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