Wabi-Kusa Style Aquascapes

[John N.]

Wabi-Kusa Style

Another style with roots from Japanese Aquascapers, the Wabi-Kusa style focuses on creating a submersed/emersed garden. Imagine taking a bonsai garden and submerging half of it underwater. The plants in this style are grown and centered on a ball of soil, and then placed in a container. Many Wabi-Kusa aquascapers create an island ball of plants surrounded by open water.




Please discuss the techniques involved in creating a Wabi-Kusa Style, and feel free to share your own Wabi-Kusa scape. (Click here to discover other aquascaping styles)

-John N.

[Pat7676]

Whats involved with making on of these do you need a filter?

[Mellonman]

Originally Posted by Pat7676

do you need a filter?

If there are some underwater plants, it's better to have a filter in order to bring some water movement in the tank...

And if you want the tank to have inhabitants, then the filter is necessary (unless you change water very frequently).

[Pat7676]

Ok cool

[Chadly]

I think these are very nice little aesthetic pieces very good for an office, coffee table or a window ledge. I think this style branches off from aquascaping but attaches itself nicely because you can use aquatic plants well known in this hobby. There are many possibilities to explore with these. I for one, am intrigued by them.

[ReefJones]

Originally Posted by Chadly

I think these are very nice little aesthetic pieces very good for an office, coffee table or a window ledge. I think this style branches off from aquascaping but attaches itself nicely because you can use aquatic plants well known in this hobby. There are many possibilities to explore with these. I for one, am intrigued by them.

Well said! I too get caught up gazing at these setups wondering when I will attempt to tackle one!
Reef

[zeneo]

I do prefer the old style, than in a glass box.

This was my first, just to try.

[GreenFanatic]

It's a bit like Ikebana flower arrangement too... alright my next project

[Dan Pellegrini]

I also find these intriguing. Do you hang a light over these or do they depend solely on ambient light? With tall plants like that you would need to suspend a light quite high!

Also, unlike a Paludarium, it is not enclosed and if you live in a dry climate (like Phoenix, AZ) I wonder how well the emersed plants do with less or no built up humidity... ???

[Mellonman]

Originally Posted by Dan Pellegrini

Also, unlike a Paludarium, it is not enclosed and if you live in a dry climate (like Phoenix, AZ) I wonder how well the emersed plants do with less or no built up humidity... ???

Some semi aquatic plants do well, even in a dry air, once they are used to it.
Plus in this style of tank, you can also use "terrestrial" plants

[Guillermo]

Originally Posted by Chadly

I think these are very nice little aesthetic pieces very good for an office, coffee table or a window ledge. I think this style branches off from aquascaping but attaches itself nicely because you can use aquatic plants well known in this hobby. There are many possibilities to explore with these. I for one, am intrigued by them.

I agree Chadly, I "need" one to replace my two terrestrial plant pots I have by my office's window. As time and budget permits, I will try my hand on this intriguing style. My nano and a wabi kusa will be a good combo for fighting stress at the office, lol.

About filtration....IMO it's a good thing to have water movement. I will try to hide one tiny internal in a "rock shack" in my future setup.

Regards