Journal Looking for feedback on plants for wabi kusa

[Noahspapa]

Hello,

I’ve purchased three substrate balls from studio aquatica as well as three small hangers to use in a new 120P tank to allow emersed growth from one rear corner of the tank. Idea is to have the substrate ball slightly immersed in the aquarium water. Tank style will be heavily planted nature aquarium with driftwood & stone from WIO. Light will be a chihiros wrgb2 pro 1200. Next step is determining a set of plants to be used. I’d appreciate any suggestions or feedback on the list of plants I am considering. I realize I need to “down select” from this list - it won’t all fit. If any of you have ever tried using these plants in this setting or are aware of someone else’s experience and could share that lesson learned I’d greatly appreciate it. I’d be glad to add to this list as well. This will be my first attempt at this.

Peace Lily
Rex Begonia
Some sort of “marginal” grass
Some sort of fern

Christmas moss
Hygrophila Pinnatifida
Fittonia
Selaginella Erythropus
Echinodorus
Crypt
Pogostemon erectus
Alternanthera Reineckii
Rotala
Hydrocoytle Tripartita
Creeping inch plant

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Im not too sure about the marginals as traditionally wabi kusa are exclusively aquatic plants grown emmersed. Everything else should work. Hair grass, elocarios species work great in this setting as well. Rotalas, ludwigia really anything that can grow emmersed.

I will say though that when it comes to planting dont crowd a bunch of plants in there. Give them space to grow and spread out. When planting the moss on the substrate ball you dont need a ton as it will fill out. I wish I had a picture of my wife's thats been growing for 3 months.

 

[Noahspapa]

Thank you for your input!

 

[ekmek]

Peace lilies are massive plants and wouldn't really be my pick for a wabikusa; might be better to put in a mesh pot filled with leca and hang it into the tank with a hook or something. (I've used the DOOA wabi kusa hangers for mesh pots before, but you can def diy it for cheaper.) Fittonia and many ferns don't like wet feet ime either.

For your marginal 'grass' a Cyperus species (C. alternifolius for example.) might be fun! Many sp. do get pretty large though. C. haspan is another fave of mine.

Pogo erectus is a classic wabi kusa plant, and the flowers are beautiful!

Is the creeping inch plant a tradescantia or callisia? or something else entirely?

Excited to see what you put together!

 

[Noahspapa]

Thank you for your input. I’ve gathered from feedback here (which is much appreciated) and some additional studying I’d be better of just going hydroponic with the peace lily and I purchased some acrylic hang on the tank gadget that will allow me to do this with 4-5 plants (pease lily, pothos, fern, grass - all?). And then I could use as many of the substrate balls with aquatic plants as space allows.

Appreciate the suggestion for the C. Alternifolius and the Pogo Erectus!

I’m trying to determine if there is a way to include a begonia in this as well? Space wise I’d give up something else to include the begonia if there was a way.

It will probably be 2-3 months before the tank is actually together but I’ll likely start the substrate balls sooner to try and get them established early. I’ll definitely keep this thread updated.