MARIMO IN SQUARE JAR WITH CORK STOPPER

Aegagropila linnaei is a multicellular green algae belonging to the Cladophoraceae family, widespread in the northern hemisphere.

Called Marimo in Japanese, it is also known as Cladofora or rock-plant or ball algae.

Name: Aegagropila Linnaei

Country of origin: Japan

Pot diameter: 15cm

Height from vase base: 20 cm

History and curiosities:

in 1921 it was declared a Japanese natural treasure and is considered a protected plant. The product for sale is produced by European growers, they are not taken from the wild. Square glass marimo with cork stopper

If you love to find the most unusual innovations in the green world, you certainly cannot fail to know Marimo. It is a seaweed that grows spontaneously in the fresh waters of Japan. The environment in which it was discovered for the first time is Lake Akan, where it is said two lovers hid to escape those who wanted to separate them. In order to stay together, the two turned their hearts into marimo and disappeared into the waters. That's why this cute and slightly chubby seaweed symbolizes eternal love. In addition to this, it also represents a sort of amulet capable of guaranteeing longevity. In fact, marimo can live well over 100 years while still maintaining small dimensions (it grows 5 mm every year).

If you are wondering how it can have such a perfect spherical shape, we can tell you that it is the result of the continuous movements it performs by rotating in the seabed and which shape its very thin stems.

Another aspect that makes it really rare is the powerful photosynthesis it generates and which allows it to produce micro-bubbles that make it swing and spin on itself, almost dancing.

A few simple attentions will be enough for him and he will be your ideal companion for a very long time!

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE MARIMO

To make it live for a long time, all you need is:

Change the water once every 10 days or so, taking care to wash the glass vase well and also rinse the marimo, squeezing it gently to free it from impurities.

Do not expose it to direct sunlight, it loves low light environments

It does not fear the cold and it is always better to guarantee temperatures below 25°

The ideal would also be to move the container regularly to simulate the currents of the seabed from which it comes. The legend of the Marimo

This fluffy green ball was first discovered in Lake Akan in Japan, and its legend is based right here.

The legend tells of a love affair between two young people, opposed by their respective families.

The two lovers, rather than being separated, chose to die together in the depths of Lake Akan. Their spirits transformed into the rare green spheres, a symbol of love and perfection.

Today in Japan, in addition to being a national treasure, marimo is considered a lucky plant, a symbol of eternal love, luck and prosperity.

It is given to young couples and handed down from generation to generation within the same family.

Marimo: care and advice

In recent years marimo has also conquered the West and more and more people decide to buy it or give it away.

This soft green ball is in fact cheap, does not need excessive care and does not take up space.

Moreover, it is also beautiful to look at, especially when it moves up and down inside the container in which it lives. This happens during the day, when performing photosynthesis, it releases oxygen as a waste product. This allows the marimo to rise to the surface for a few hours and rotate slightly on itself.

As we have already anticipated, taking care of a marimo is really easy, however three fundamental rules must be absolutely remembered. If you too have bought or are going to buy ball seaweed, you absolutely need to know these little tricks.

Let's see immediately what they are:Choose a suitable container for Marimo

The marimo should be placed in an aquarium or container of at least 500ml.

Do not place the marimo in a tank with goldfish as it will immediately become their meal. These algae, on the other hand, can live peacefully with shrimps, which use them as a hiding place.

To enrich the aquarium containing the ball algae, you can add corals, pebbles, pebbles, shells and other decorative elements.

It is very important that the container is clear and transparent so that natural light can filter through.

Only use fresh water and avoid exposing the aquarium to direct sunlight to avoid excessive overheating. Although the marimo can withstand a few hours exposed to direct light, it is good that the temperatures never exceed 25 degrees.

In the case of particularly sultry and hot summers, it is advisable to place the jar in the refrigerator, in this way the ball seaweed will spend the summer period without suffering.

Always clean your Marimo thoroughly

The cleaning operations of the ball seaweed are really simple and fast.

It is sufficient to change the water about every two weeks using fresh tap water (it is advisable to let it stand for a few days to eliminate the chlorine).

To clean the seaweed and remove any dead leaves, pass it under running water and squeeze it to remove excess water and any impurities.

Finally, shape the marimo with your hands, to give it back its natural spherical shape.

Try to keep the algae ball out of the water only during cleaning operations. If for some reason this is not possible, don't worry.

The ball seaweed can survive out of the water for 24 hours, while if closed in a transparent plastic bag it can survive for about 20 days.

Marimo Remedies and Care: Remember that there is always a solution

If the marimo turns brown there is nothing to worry about. This is a first sign of malaise from the alga, which can however be immediately resolved with small tricks.

In fact, it is enough to carry out the usual water change and move the container to another place, perhaps brighter.

From an aesthetic point of view, however, the brown parts can be eliminated simply by washing and carefully squeezing the algae ball.

Even if the marimo were to split into two parts or open, there is no cause for alarm.

In this case you will have to carry out a slightly more complicated operation, but necessary to return the algae ball to its original shape. What you have to do is get a needle and thread (preferably nylon) and sew the two parts together. Once this is done, it will be necessary to re-ball the seaweed with your hands and it will soon be like new again.

You don't need to worry even if the marimo doesn't move inside the aquarium, as especially the bigger ones can struggle to lift themselves.

Some people pour carbonated water into the algae ball jar to make them rise to the surface. This trick really works, but it's good not to overdo it, because it's as if you were "doping" the marimo with a high dose of carbon dioxide