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Vesicularia montagnei Christmas

An easy going moss that carpets or attaches to wood or rock

Regular price
£8.99
Regular price
Sale price
£8.99
  • Hurry, only 3 items left in stock!
Quick Facts

Rating:

Growth rate: Slow

Common name: Christmas tree moss

Position in Aquarium: Attach to wood/rock

Grows up to (cm): 3 cm

Portion Size: 5x9cm

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Express Delivery is our fastest and most reliable option. Orders are fully trackable, delivered within a one-hour time slot, and covered by our replacement guarantee if plants are damaged due to delivery delays. It’s ideal if you want extra peace of mind and plants arriving exactly as they left us.

Tracked 24 is a great value option and usually arrives within a couple of days.

Order before 4pm (Mon–Fri) for same-day dispatch.

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Vesicularia montagnei, commonly known as Christmas moss, takes its name from the triangular branching arrangement of its fronds — each branch resembles a small fir tree, and a fully established sheet of Christmas moss on wood or rock creates a layered pattern reminiscent of overlapping fir branches. The visual effect is quite different from the irregular texture of Java moss, more structured and decorative in character.

Christmas moss grows in low to medium light without CO2 injection and tolerates a range of water conditions. Its triangular branching pattern is an inherent trait maintained across light levels and water parameters. It attaches to hard surfaces over time and can also be used as a carpeting plant on a mesh base. Shrimp and fry use it extensively for shelter and grazing.

Supplied as a loose portion — attach to wood or rock using fine thread or aquarium-safe glue and allow several weeks to establish before removing the thread. Christmas moss is effective as a foreground carpet on mesh, as a mid-ground surface covering on rock, or attached to driftwood. Suited to aquariums of 20 litres and above and particularly effective in shrimp tanks and natural aquascapes.

Vesicularia montagnei Christmas - Aqua Essentials
Vesicularia montagnei Christmas - Aqua Essentials
Vesicularia montagnei Christmas - Aqua Essentials

Information about growing mosses:

1. Slow growing

Mosses are well known for being relaltively easy to grow. Due to the fact they are slow growing, it means demands are low. This means less light, less fertilisers and less care.

2. Not too much light please

Because all mosses are slow growing, you can't force them to grow quicker. So brighter light and loads of CO2 won't turbo charge them - actually you'll just end up stressing them out. Whilst some will always grow faster than others, mosses take time to get to the stage you want them to be. Patience.

3. Trimming is beneficial

Like all plants, mosses need trimming with a shaprt pair of scissors so don't hold back. Avoid them getting leggy, trim them to keep their shape and they will reward you with better growth which is a deeper green and dense.

Christmas moss arrives healthy and grows well in aquariums. Customers said "good quality plant, very healthy" and praised fast delivery. However, portions are "smaller than anticipated" and some received incorrect moss types. Easy to attach to wood or rocks with fishing line or glue. Ideal for shrimp tanks and creating natural aquascapes.

  • In my opinion this is the best of all the mosses and possibly the best for shrimp
  • Two great portions in brilliant condition. Starting to look really nice.
  • Lovely and thick, showing a lovely emerald green colour after only 3 days in the tank
  • 5 stars: 23 (77%)
  • 4 stars: 5 (17%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 1 (3%)
  • 1 star: 1 (3%)
E
Etsy c.

As described and fast post, thank you

J
John B. (Tadworth, GB)
Good Quality Plant

Good quality plant, very healthy .

J
Jack

Small amount but goes a long way

E
Ellen M.
Review

I tied it to some rocks with fishing line and it’s growing well.

M
Matt R.
Review

The moss was in great condition, portions were maybe a bit smaller than I had anticipated, so I should of purchased 3 instead of two, but there was enough to place where I wanted it.

J
Jerry H.
Review

Didn't receive the correct type of moss so can't really review this item fairly.

J
Jerry H.
Review

The moss was in really good condition and is growing well the only issue is I received weeping moss instead, something I only noticed once it had been glued onto a pleco cave.

R
Roza T.
Review

despite a slight delay in delivery, the moss has arrived in perfect condition, the portion is enough to be planted on one root in the nano tank

S
Simon C.
Review

Arrived in great condition growing very well

S
Shaun W.
Review

Two great portions in brilliant condition. Took a couple of weeks to acclimatise in tank but starting to look really nice. Hopefully the co2 and led lighting will provide good growth. Really reccomend buying from Aqua Essentials.

P
Peter W.
Review

Arrived well packed, the moss is very healthy and has settled in nicely in the aquaruim!

H
Helen B.
Review

growing very well now

H
Helen B.
Review

doing well on the christmas tree former

E
Eric H.
Review

In my opinion this is the best of all the mosses and possibly the best for shrimp

J
James C.
Review

Great little moss tub perfect for what i needed it for its growing strong an bushy already and since putting it in i've had multiple fish spawn in it

w
william r.
Review

Items delivered when stated - looks good - will buy again when required

M
Michael P.
Review

Very fast service nice plant well packaged

M
Michael P.
Review

Fast service first class quality as usual

M
Martyn G.
Review

Very healthy and great for making Moss balls. More controlled growth than java.

C
Customer
Review

Good moss

A
Alexis D.
Review

Love this moss. Looks really pretty and easy to attach to a bit of wood or similar.

G
Geoff M.
Review

Divided and attached to wood with flourish glue, growing really well.

A
Amanda R.
Review

Lovely quality plants. You don\'t get that much for the cost though.

C
Caroline E.
Review

Looking nice and green and slowly growing.

D
Danielle W.
Review

I bought this as a change from the java moss growing rampant in my tank and I must say I\'m very impressed. The batch received was lovely and thick and after only 3 days in the tank is showing a lovely emerald green colour. The previously ignored rock its been attached to is already a favourite resting spot for my bristlenose pleco.

C
Chris C.
Review

Growing well looks good on my tree

F
Felicia H.
Review

this moss is great. I tied it onto a piece of wood and the shrimps love 'hiding' in it.

J
Jason B.
Review

As usual, a very good specimen of this plant and a nice healthy portion. Was a bit tricky attaching this to the root in my tank but I get there in the end.

S
Sam M.
Review

A great moss looks lovely in tank and easy to attach great service from aquaessentials as always moss portions could be a little bigger but I guess that's the cost of quality.

S
Sam L.
Review

Good portion fast delivery,

Product FAQs

Helpful details before you buy.

Why is it called Christmas moss?

The triangular branching of the fronds resembles overlapping fir tree branches — like a tiny Christmas tree pattern. It is quite distinctive from the irregular branching of Java moss.

Does it need CO2 or specialist lighting?

No — Christmas moss grows in low to medium light without CO2 injection.

Can it be used as a carpeting plant?

Yes — attach it to a mesh base and place in the foreground. It creates an effective carpet and the triangular pattern gives it a more ornate appearance than Java moss.

How do I attach it to hardscape?

Use fine thread or aquarium-safe glue to secure it to wood or rock. Allow several weeks to anchor before removing the thread.

Is it suitable for shrimp tanks?

Yes — its dense, structured branching provides excellent shelter and grazing surface for shrimp. A popular choice for shrimp tanks and breeding set-ups.