A Marimo moss ball floats primarily when air gets trapped inside its dense structure. You can encourage this process through a few simple steps:
-
Squeeze gently: Carefully squeeze the moss ball to release any water and potentially create air pockets within it. Avoid squeezing too hard, as you don't want to damage it.
-
Roll and reshape: Gently roll the moss ball between your palms to help redistribute air and water, ensuring it maintains a round shape.
-
Submerge and Observe: After squeezing and rolling, place the moss ball back into the water. Give it a slight push to help it initially sink. Observe if air bubbles release from the moss ball.
-
Patience is Key: The moss ball may not float immediately. Give it a few minutes to release remaining trapped water and allow air to naturally accumulate within its structure.
If the marimo moss ball still doesn't float after these steps, repeat the process a few times over several days. Note that even healthy marimo moss balls don't always float constantly, and spending most of their time at the bottom of the tank is perfectly normal.