8 Unexpected Facts About Marimo Moss Balls

Marimo moss balls are tiny green wonders that do more than just float around in water. They don't need much care and bring peace wherever they go.

Here are 8 interesting facts about these plants that you might not have known before. They might make you want to get one (or more) for yourself!

Fact #1: Origin and Name

The cool lakes in places like Japan, Iceland, and Scotland are where marimo moss balls are found. They're not moss; they're a rare form of algae that forms balls when water moves over them.

"Marimo" comes from the Japanese words "mari," which means "ball," and "mo," which means "algae." This is what Marimo moss ball means: "algae ball."

People in Japan love them so much they even celebrate a Marimo Festival every year. These green balls are special because they're not found everywhere, making them a cool piece of nature in your home.

Fact #2: Symbolism and Cultural Significance

In some cultures, moss balls symbolize love, luck, and happiness. Here's why they're so special:

• Symbol of Love: They are often given as gifts to show love and wish the other person health and happiness.
• Good Luck Charm: These are thought to bring luck and wealth to the person who keeps them.
• Cultural Celebrations: As the first fact said, there is even a festival in Japan that is all about them.

Fact #3: Growth Process

When they grow in the wild, Marimo moss balls roll around in lake currents, which gives them their unique round shape. All parts of the moss ball can get sunlight and grow at the same rate because of this movement.

They grow very slowly—about 5 mm a year, which shows how patiently they have been going through time.

Don't worry. Marimo moss balls will still grow even if you keep them in jars at home rather than in the wild. To make it look like nature is touching them, turn them slowly in the water with the moss stir wand.

This makes sure they get light from all sides so they grow evenly and makes it easy to combine their care.

Fact #4: Reproduction Method

Marimo moss balls divide, which is a simple way to make new life. Here's how it works:

• Division: When they get big enough, they can split into two or more pieces. The cycle keeps going as each piece grows into a new orb.
• No Seeds Needed: With this easy method, they don't need flowers or seeds to start a new life.
• Easy to Share: It's simple for anyone to take a piece of their moss ball and grow another one, so they can share the happiness with family and friends.

This one-of-a-kind way of reproducing makes them interesting to watch and easy to spread, bringing their lovely green color to more homes and places to live.

Must Read: How Does Marimo Reproduce? The Answer Will Amaze You!

Fact #5: Photosynthesis Behavior

Moss balls, like all other plants, use sunlight to make food. This process is called photosynthesis.

But here's the twist: they do it in a special way that sometimes makes them float. Light makes tiny bubbles of oxygen inside them, which is called photosynthesis. Because of these bubbles, they may float to the top of the water because they are lighter than it.

They often go back down when they've used up some of the oxygen or when it gets dark and photosynthesis slows down.

Remember: This act of floating and sinking is both fun to watch and a sign that they are healthy and doing their job well.

Fact #6: Long Lifespan

Marimo moss balls can live for decades, often longer than most houseplants. The oldest known Marimo moss ball is over 150 to 200 years old, which shows how long they can live with the right care and conditions.

Fact #7: Effortless to Care For

Marimo moss balls are easy to take care of and do best in conditions similar to those in lakes where they grow naturally. Let's look at the most basic ways to care for them.

• Light: These water plants do best in soft, indirect sunlight or a steady glow of artificial light. They don't like being in direct sunlight, but our Moss Amigo Country Hat lets them enjoy the sun without worrying about getting hurt.
• Temperature: Marimo moss balls do best in cooler places, like the cold lakes they like to live in. They stay lush and green because they like this.
• Cleaning: To clean them, roll them in your clean hands under running water every so often to keep their shape and get rid of any dirt.
• Water: For marimo moss balls to grow well, they need clean, fresh water. You can use tap water, but you should let it sit for a day to get rid of the chlorine that could hurt your moss ball. Even better, our Starter Kit comes with Purified Water that is perfect for your moss ball and will make sure it gets the best care from the start.

Fact #8: Versatile Uses

Besides looking nice, Marimo moss balls serve many purposes:

• Educational Tools: These are great for classrooms because they let kids learn about photosynthesis and aquatic ecosystems by doing.
• Gifts: They make thoughtful presents because they represent love, luck, and long life.

Read more: What Does It Mean to Gift a Moss Ball?

• Stress Relief: Watching them float and talking to them can be relaxing.

Conclusion

Now you know about the unique beauty of Marimo moss balls, including how to care for them and how they grow. It's possible that these little moss balls could clean water, bring peace, and even live for hundreds of years.

You can get everything you need to start growing Marimos at Moss Amigos, whether you want to bring one into your home or give one as a gift. Thanks for reading!

References:

Irimoto, T. (2004). Creation of the Marimo festival: Ainu identity and ethnic symbiosis. Senri ethnological studies, 66, 11-38. https://minpaku.repo.nii.ac.jp/api/records/2692

Obara, A., Ogawa, M., Oyama, Y., Suzuki, Y., & Kono, M. (2023). Effects of high irradiance and low water temperature on photoinhibition and repair of photosystems in Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010060

Umekawa, T., Wakana, I., Ohara, M. (2021). Reproductive behavior and role in maintaining an aggregative form of the freshwater green alga Marimo, Aegagropila linnaei, in Lake Akan, Hokkaido, Japan. Aquatic Botany, 168, 103309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2020.103309

Sun, P., & Ji, B. (2023). Using marimo as a nature-derived microalgal-bacterial granular consortium for municipal wastewater treatment. Chemical Engineering Journal, 472, 144815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.144815