I’m the proud owner of four little green marimo moss balls. They’ve been living in their little proxy home on my shelf, along with their plastic giraffe guardian for quite some time now.
Why the plastic giraffe you ask? Well, that’s a side story about my brief infatuation with checking in on April the giraffe when she was preparing to give birth to her baby giraffe. Plus giraffe symbolism is kind of fun if you believe in those kinds of things. I’m not saying that I do, but a little bit of “if it maybe helps, why not give it a whirl?” never hurts. And, it works in my quirky decorating theme.
Where was I? Oh, yeah, the giraffe. She (I’m assuming she’s a she, how would one tell on a plastic version?) lives in the proxy home along with the marimo moss balls. She guards them, and they like to congregate around her legs when I swirl the water to keep them rounded in shape.
Marimo moss balls are extremely easy to take care of. A perfect plant, hard to kill, and they don’t outgrow their homes for a really, really, long time. I’m no expert, but they seem a bit forgiving when you don’t follow care directions properly. And the plastic giraffe only requires an occasional rinsing.
Yesterday, it was (way past) time to give the home a cleaning and fresh water. Marimo moss balls love fresh, cold water.
I’ve been attempting to lengthen the time between cleanings by putting plastic wrap over the top to keep the dust out, the water clean and of course, free from those nasty gnats still invading the rest of the plants in the room. (I used to have such a green thumb, really, I did! I’m reviving it slowly, but surely, you’ll see.).
I peeled off the plastic wrap to find this. Oh, my, the technique has a flaw – ewe. I don’t think it has anything to do with the plastic cover being loose, I think it was probably the length of time between changing out the stale water and providing fresh. Or the giraffe’s spots are turning into to mold that floats to the surface? Nah, that can’t be. But it kind of looks like it, in a weird way, don’t you think?
Good news – I still have a bit of a green thumb. They’re just fine! After running lots of cold water on them, giving them a squeeze and a roll in my hands before dropping them back into the fresh water. Finishing up by returning the giraffe to her prominent guardian-of-the-home spot. And, I couldn’t resist trying the plastic wrap one more time. I did a quick trim of the plastic covering so it would hold to the rim better before replacing it on the top.
All is well. The five roommates are loving their fresh water and are back safely to rest in their proxy home on the shelf in my office. See, I’m getting my green thumb back.
