Which plants grow this way
Plants with a rhizome: java fern, anubias and bucephalandra. Mosses such as java moss, Christmas moss and flame moss have no roots at all and simply cling. Stem plants and crypts belong in the substrate instead.
Tie or glue it on
- Rinse the wood or rock and find a crevice or rough patch where the rhizome can sit firmly.
- Lay the rhizome flat along it with the leaves pointing up; tuck the roots into gaps.
- Thread: wrap cotton thread or thin fishing line around the rhizome and the wood a few times, between the leaves, and knot it. Cotton rots away after the roots take hold; remove fishing line once the roots hold the plant on their own.
- Glue: dry the spot, add a small dot of cyanoacrylate gel superglue, press the rhizome on for half a minute, then return it to the water. The glue turns white under water; it is the type many aquascapers use, and a small amount is enough.
- Moss: spread a thin layer, never a thick clump, and tie it down with thread; the bottom of a thick clump turns brown without light.
After it is attached
New roots usually show within a few weeks; slow growers take longer. Keep the rhizome out of strong flow at first. These plants grow slowly and like low to moderate light, so fast algae on their leaves usually means too much light. Identify algae. Trim moss before it gets thick, so the lower layer keeps its light.