Spiky Moss

Taxiphyllum sp. 'Spiky Moss' is a creeping moss sold under the trade names Spiky Moss and Peacock Moss. Flowgrow treats the two as the same plant, noting that the moss called 'spiky moss' in Singapore is identical to peacock moss. The shoots branch irregularly and grow horizontally over driftwood and rock rather than upward, so the plant reads as a low, dark-green mat on hardscape. It is an epiphyte and needs no substrate: a few fragments tied or glued to wood attach within weeks. Light is not critical, since the plant grows in everything from shaded corners to brightly lit tanks, and medium light keeps it compact. The optimum temperature range is 20-28 C, with pH 5-8 and carbonate hardness up to 14 dKH. Carbon dioxide is optional; without injection growth slows but the moss stays healthy. Under warmer conditions it grows a little faster but also tends to collect debris and algae, so periodic trimming and gentle rinsing help. Propagation is straightforward: split the mat, cut off daughter shoots, and reattach the pieces. The species itself is unidentified; the plant is named for the stiff, spiky appearance of its shoot tips.