Hairnet Riccia in a Few Easy Steps

[travis simonson]

Riccia fluitans is one of my all-time favorite plants so I thought I would throw up a step-by-step walkthrough of how I do it. Mind you, this is not how everyone does it, but I find it to be the simplest, easiest way to do it. Of course I'm fairly lazy and always look for the easiest way to do anything :P

Step 1

Get some Riccia. Got it? Well you're halfway there my friend

Step 2

Get yourself some hairnets and some cable ties. Both sold at your friendly neighborhood Walmart. Although I get some strange stares from the cashiers when I come up to the register with a huge pile of hairnets and several packages of zip ties :P

Step 3

Find some large, fairly round rocks. I recommend rocks anywhere from 2-4" in diameter and somewhat flat for the best effect.

Step 4

Arrange the materials:



Step 5

In this case I don't have any Riccia but imagine I do. Spread it in a fine layer over the top of the rock and a bit down the sides. It will drape nicely. You just need a very thin layer that completely covers the surface you're working with. Once you've done this place the hairnet over the rock:



Step 6

Turn the rock over and tighten the hairnet by twisting it as shown and fasten it snugly with a cable-tie:



Step 7

Clip the extra hairnet and the tag end of the cable-tie off with scissors so that there is very little extra material hanging out:



Step 8

Flip the completed Riccia rock over and place in tank:



Within a few days the Riccia should begin to grow through the hairnet and in about two weeks you should have a nice looking Riccia rock. The best part about this method is that, should you desire, you can simply pick the Riccia rock up and move it to a new position in the tank if you decide you don't like its placement. You will need to redo the procedure roughly every 1.5-2 months as the Riccia will outgrow itself and begin to come loose from the rock. Hope this helps

[mr funktastic]

awesome idea travis. now all i need is riccia a rock a hairnet and zip ties lol.

[Glenc]

Cool tip Travis, might have to give it a try. Thanks!

[dskidmore]

Good timing. I just got a shipment of riccia from somone with the intitials TS , and was trying to figure out how best to use it.

I'm also half-toying with the plastic canvas sandwich background used sometimes with mosses. I certianly have enough of it...

[travis simonson]

That's an incredible coincidence :P I'm sure you'll find a place for it somewhere.

[dskidmore]

Riccia is doing ok in the plastic canvas sandwich, but the X-mas moss is out-competing it. I do have a spare rock here, maybe I'll try it Travis's way before it gets choked out.