How to Attach Moss to a Bonsai Driftwood Tree

Quick answer: Soak and rinse the tree first, then spread a thin layer of moss over the top branches and hold it in place with dark cotton thread, fishing line or a gel super glue. Keep the layer thin so light reaches every strand. In most tanks the canopy looks full in about 4 to 8 weeks.

Our bonsai driftwood trees ship bare, so the moss is yours to add. This guide covers the method aquascapers use most and the small details that decide whether the canopy grows thick or turns brown.

What you need

• A bonsai driftwood tree, already rinsed and soaked (see How to Prepare Aquarium Driftwood)
• Moss: java moss is the easiest; christmas moss and flame moss give a more tree-like shape
• One of: dark cotton thread, clear fishing line, or cyanoacrylate gel glue
• Scissors and a shallow tray of tank water

How much moss do you need?

A loose golf-ball size portion of moss covers the top of one small tree. Medium and large trees usually need two to three portions. It is better to start thin: moss fills in on its own, while a thick clump blocks light from the inner layer and that layer dies back.

Step 1: Prepare the tree

Rinse the tree and soak it until it sinks. Trim any loose bark you do not want. Work over a tray so the moss stays wet the whole time; dry moss is hard to spread and gets damaged.

Step 2: Spread the moss thin

Pull the moss apart into small, thin pieces. Lay them over the top surface of each branch pad, where the "leaves" of a real bonsai would be. Leave the trunk bare so it still reads as a tree.

Step 3: Hold the moss in place

Thread or fishing line: wrap loosely around the branch every 1 to 2 cm and tie off underneath. Cotton thread slowly breaks down after the moss has attached itself; fishing line stays and can be trimmed later.

Gel glue: pat the branch dry with a paper towel, put small dots of gel on the wood, and press a thin piece of moss onto each dot for a few seconds. Glue is faster for small trees and nano tanks, and it leaves no visible thread.

Step 4: Place the tree and give it light

Put the tree in the tank where it gets moderate light and some water flow. Weak light makes moss grow long and stringy; very strong light without CO2 often brings algae into the canopy.

Step 5: Trim to shape

After 3 to 4 weeks, trim the canopy with scissors to keep a rounded, bonsai-like outline. Trimming also makes the moss branch out and grow denser. Siphon out the cut pieces so they do not spread around the tank.

Common mistakes

• Too much moss at once. The inner layer dies and turns brown. Start thin.
• Moss on the trunk. The tree loses its shape. Keep the trunk clean.
• No flow. Debris settles in the moss. A little water movement keeps it clean.

Which tree size fits your tank?

• Nano and shrimp tanks: the Mini box (3+ small trees)
• Betta tanks and small aquascapes: the Small box (5+ trees)
• Planted community tanks: the Medium box (8+ trees)
• Larger aquariums or several tanks: the Large box (12+ trees)

Not sure? The size guide compares tree counts and tank sizes.

FAQ

Can I use super glue in an aquarium?

Aquascapers widely use cyanoacrylate gel to attach moss and plants. Let it set before the tree goes back in the water and use small dots, not a thick layer.

Which moss looks most like a real bonsai?

Christmas moss and flame moss grow in a layered, upright way that looks more like a tree canopy. Java moss is the easiest and fastest to grow.

How long does moss take to attach?

It usually anchors to the wood within 3 to 6 weeks. After that you can remove fishing line if you used it.

Do your trees come with moss?

No. Trees ship bare and you add your own moss. Boxes are random assortments, ship Wednesdays to the Lower 48, and all sales are final.