Amano's Article in the April TFH

[Totenkampf]

Did anyone see this? I forget what he called them, but has anyone tried growing stem plants in the little substrate balls that he was using? Seems like the perfect solution for holding them down without wieghts yet being able to remove them when they need to be topped and replanted...

[armthehomeless]

I think I'm gonna have to borrow this issue..

[Totenkampf]

He only calls them "semispherical media made of plant materials", hes so cryptic some times like its a trade secret. Link to online article:

http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/enjoying-a-layout-longer-by-replanting-the-background-full-article.htm

[mnemenoi]

I had to go back and read the article, he is way cryptic and only alludes to it with no pics. I'm assuming he is referring to something akin to Wabi-kusa balls that he has managed to not completely tear apart when submersed. I think its possibly something that he is working with that might be his next new thing... Lookslater and I discussed it, but I'm truly at a loss to figure out what he'd be using that could grow stems and support roots, but would not break apart every time you moved it or at least cloud the water for awhile...

[TexSun]

Thanks for the link Totenkampf.

[Totenkampf]

I had to go back and read the article, he is way cryptic and only alludes to it with no pics. I'm assuming he is referring to something akin to Wabi-kusa balls that he has managed to not completely tear apart when submersed. I think its possibly something that he is working with that might be his next new thing... Lookslater and I discussed it, but I'm truly at a loss to figure out what he'd be using that could grow stems and support roots, but would not break apart every time you moved it or at least cloud the water for awhile...

the magazine has more pics of the back of the aquarium in the article but i can make out the individual soil balls, only that them stems are VERY densely planted. He makes it sound like soil so not likely mineral wool but maybe some sort of inert floss with soil additives and all wrapped in a light mesh like wedding veil toole?

[Totenkampf]

Well I am back to trying to figue this out. I suspect that Roy is right and that the substrate balls are just submerged wabi-kusa or kokedama. The ones that ADA sells dont appear to be much more than spaghnum moss or barley straw tied around a rock with thread. i think that i would try to enrich them with some kind of aquatic soil like amazonia or flourite at least but that doesnt appear to be a part of the typical recipe for wabi-kusa. i havent looked into kokedama as much yet. I'm not far from just using mineral wool though.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plant-physiology-emersed-culture/76538-secret-ada-wabi-kusa-they-filled.html

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/tank-journals/176368-phils-porch-wabi-kusa-container-garden.html

http://www.rareaquaticplants.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=598%3Akokedama-aquarium-preparation&catid=45%3Aarticle&Itemid=188

[LooksLater]

Well I am back to trying to figue this out. I suspect that Roy is right and that the substrate balls are just submerged wabi-kusa or kokedama. The ones that ADA sells dont appear to be much more than spaghnum moss or barley straw tied around a rock with thread. i think that i would try to enrich them with some kind of aquatic soil like amazonia or flourite at least but that doesnt appear to be a part of the typical recipe for wabi-kusa. i havent looked into kokedama as much yet. I'm not far from just using mineral wool though.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plant-physiology-emersed-culture/76538-secret-ada-wabi-kusa-they-filled.html

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/tank-journals/176368-phils-porch-wabi-kusa-container-garden.html

http://www.rareaquaticplants.com/ind...cle&Itemid=188

This month's issue, he focuses on how to plant with them, and why they are fantastic. But does the same old withholding game. Calls them wabi-kusa, this time, though...but no pics, no explanation of where to get them or how to make them. Of course. :/

[sunkenmetal]

lol yawn

[sunkenmetal]

This month's issue, he focuses on how to plant with them, and why they are fantastic. But does the same old withholding game. Calls them wabi-kusa, this time, though...but no pics, no explanation of where to get them or how to make them. Of course. :/

That is because he wants to sell you over prices dirt

[fishman1]

The dirt works I'm not complaining

[fishman1]

But it is a bit on the highside

[sunkenmetal]

Not trying to hate it is just expensive.