Phil's porch wabi kusa container garden - Journals

Phil Edwards · 05-13-2012, 09:03 PM

Greetings from Japan!

After two months being in country I finally broke down and bought myself a little ADA wabi kusa setup for my porch. I have no idea if this'll be entered in the AGA contest, but I needed to be growing something. I've been without plants for too long.

Everything was bought at Aqua Pisces shop in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka Pref. http://www.adana.co.jp/jp/shop/view.php?c=2238

The bowl cost 1300, the ball with the crypts was 2580, and the one with Rotala and Lysimachia was 2200. A regular sized bag of normal Amazonia runs 1300. These plants had better be worth it! On close external inspection ADA's wabi kusa balls appear to be straw wrapped around a rock, onto which 2cm-ish segments of stems are tied. Rosette plants were inserted into the straw instead of just being tied down. I'm pretty sure the worker bees just chop up emersed grown stems, grab handfuls, and tie the mess down. All of the balls I saw at the store had Riccia on them. I'm not sure if that's intentional or if they're a nice pest infesting the cultures. My guess is it's a little bit of both.

Without further ado, here are the 5.14.12 pics.

Crypt ball. My best guess at a species list is: C. wendtii 'green' or C lucens, L. brevipes, L. glandulosa, E. acicularis, R. rotundifolia, and R. fluitans.

Stem ball. R. species ('green'? I've never seen it emersed), L. numularia, L. glandulosa, and R. fluitans. If someone can positively ID the Rotala I'd be grateful.

Cheers,
Phil

Michael · 05-14-2012, 05:53 AM

Hi Phil,

Kim and I have been experimenting with wabi kusa here in Dallas, so your post is very interesting. My first attempts have been mineralized topsoil mixed with long fiber sphagnum moss as a binder. They are a little too fragile, but look good as long as you are careful how you handel them.

One thing I notice about your "real" wabi kusa is that they are much more densely planted than mine were at the start. I am also curious about the rock. How big is it? Does it help the ball keep its shape? Are the wabi kusa ever submerged in aquaria to create an "instant aquascape" as rumored?

fishyjoe24 · 05-14-2012, 04:31 PM

and phil raises from the dead. :P i mean out of no where. how's japan. that bowl was cheap then only around $15.00 . come back to dallas.

mudboots · 05-18-2012, 11:21 AM

Those are really nice. What do you grow them under as far as light and timing goes? Are they supposed to be allowed to grow out to an extent or be maintained about that size and shape?

Glad to see that you have found some plants to keep you happy. I can't imagine having to pick up and move that far, but I guess once you're there it becomes home...

JeffyFunk · 05-18-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael

Hi Are the wabi kusa ever submerged in aquaria to create an "instant aquascape" as rumored?

Yes, they are. Amano makes several different types of wabi kusa, but many of them are actually composed of a singular species such as UG and HC 'Cuba'. Amano states that these foreground plants in particular, because of their overall size and diminutive root systems, are easier to add / plant in your aquarium if added as wabi kusa - the wabi kusa can be torn up and planted. Also, the mixed species wabi kusa can be added to the aquarium directly as an instant planting... This was all mentioned in his ADA catalogue as well as the May issue of Aqua journal (English edition).

Tex Gal · 05-18-2012, 08:19 PM

I'm glad you are keeping your fingers wet!

TanyaQ2000 · 05-20-2012, 08:12 PM

Hi, Phil....

Japan!? thought you were just headed home LOL

love the bowl

B76 · 05-20-2012, 08:54 PM

Awesome. Subd

Phil Edwards · 05-21-2012, 01:02 AM

5.21.12 Update-

I'm not a big fan of the bare bottom look and also wanted to try growing some crypts emersed out here so I've made some changes.

I added some Amazonia powder, A. barteri v. nana 'Petite', B. heudelotii, C. wendtii 'Green Gecko', C. pontederiifolia, and willow moss. My goal was to make this an emersed garden with some water rather than a glass container with a couple plant balls. Time, and a lot of detailed pruning, will tell how well it works out.

First, growth progress before any changes-

Post planting and trimming-

Plant palette:

Substrate and moss:

Planted and trimmed:

With fertilizer:

Cheers,
Phil

Phil Edwards · 05-21-2012, 01:10 AM

Mudboots,

I'm currently keeping this little one out on the porch. It gets somewhat shaded sunlight all day with 5-6 hours of full on light in the mid-morning/early afternoon. I'm going to be treating this like a bonsai garden with the intent of shaping it just right. Most often wabi kusa are allowed to grow "wild" and express their natural forms as the plants grow. My desire is to have a tiny little Japanese garden made out of aquatics.

Michael,

I have no idea how big the rock is. I'd have to cut one of the balls open and I don't want to do that right now.

Yes, they're very densely planted/covered from the start. Also yes, wabi kusa are used to create instant aquascapes. The store I get my stuff at has done just that.

Tanya,

I couldn't even find work cleaning toilets back in Washington. This job was the first one offered to me and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up even if I'd had other offers. It's my last hurrah before settling down into a career and living like a responsible adult.

Cheers,
Phil