The Marimo balls that I purchased back in March seem to be doing well. My 5 little Marimo balls are still in the midst of their 6 month quarantine process. Call me crazy, but I’m excited for them to pass quarantine so I can finally add some decorative items to their jar. Recently, where I live, we’ve been dealing with some pretty extreme summer temperatures. In any temperature extreme, whether it’s hot or cold, one of my biggest concerns is keeping all my critters, and plants comfortable. So what, exactly, is the ideal temperature range for Marimo balls? How can you ensure they stay healthy during temperature extremes?
The Ideal Temperature for Marimo Balls
Marimo balls are native to cold water lakes in Japan and Iceland. As you can probably guess, they prefer cooler water. The ideal temperature range for Marimo balls is between 60*F and 75*F.
Will My Marimo Ball Die If Its Water Gets Too Hot Or Too Cold?
Not necessarily! In fact, this summer we’ve experienced a handful of heat waves where the water my Marimo are kept in got warmer than 75*F. My Marimo are fine! I’m sure they have a heat limit. Marimo cannot survive in boiling water, for example. And, on the other extreme, you shouldn’t let their water get cold enough to freeze.
However, as long as Marimo are kept at a relatively stable temperature they seem to do okay. Quick, extreme temperature swings seem to be more detrimental than natural, slower, variances in temperature. Like other living things, Marimo appear to have some ability to adapt to changing temperatures as long as they are given time to adjust.
That doesn’t mean you should be negligent, though. Avoid keeping your Marimo in spots where they may experience intense hot or cold, such as directly on a windowsill, in front of an air conditioner, or on top of a heater.
Hot Weather Marimo Care Tips
No matter the time of the year, but especially so in the summer, avoid exposing your Marimo ball to intense, direct sunlight. Remember that, in the wild, they live at the bottom of cold water lakes. The light they receive is filtered through the water. Direct sunlight shining on a small aquarium or jar can quickly heat up the water to unsafe temperatures, and it may encourage the growth of competitive algae species.
If you’re expecting especially warm temperatures keep your Marimo in a cool, shaded spot away from direct sunlight. If you have an air conditioned room your Marimo would appreciate it, however make sure not to place them directly in front of your AC.
You can use ice cubes to cool down the water in your Marimo ball’s jar. Some people advocate giving Marimo balls a “spa” day in the refrigerator during especially hot weather. To do this, simply place your Marimo in a container of water and place them inside your refrigerator. This is best done for short amounts of time, up to a few days at a time. To avoid extreme temperature swings, it’s best to use water from your Marimo ball’s jar so it can cool down inside the fridge more slowly. When you remove them from their mini spa vacation, don’t put them back into their regular jar right away. Set them out to allow the water from the fridge to more slowly adjust to room temperature. Once they have taken some time to adjust, then you can place them back in their jar.
Remember that giving your Marimo a refrigerator spa treatment shouldn’t override their quarantine! If your Marimo balls are still undergoing their 6 month quarantine, you can still put them in the fridge. You just have to be a lot more careful about how you dispose of any water that your Marimo ball has come into contact with.
Cold Weather Marimo Ball Care Tips
Because of where they come from in the wild, Marimo balls typically deal better with colder temperatures than they do extremely hot temperatures. The main concern with cold weather is just to not let them get cold enough to freeze.
Unless you are keeping your Marimo outside for some reason, or next to a very cold windowsill, you, luckily, shouldn’t have to worry about them freezing when they are kept indoors. In fact, something to keep in mind is to avoid keeping them next to sources of heat in the winter.
Signs Of Temperature Stress In Marimo Balls
Watch out for color changes in your Marimo balls during any extreme weather. If they start to fade, look pale, or develop brown spots those are signs that your Marimo may not be handling the temperature well.
Avoid Direct Sunlight, And Dramatic Temperature Swing
Luckily Marimo balls are, generally, pretty low maintenance little guys. Although their temperature ideal is between 60*F and 75*F they can adapt to more extreme temperatures when they need too. Don’t allow them to get exceedingly hot, or to freeze, and your Marimo balls should do just fine. It’s most important to try and avoid very sudden, dramatic temperature swings and to keep your Marimo ball out of intense, direct sunlight. Very high temperatures are typically more dangerous for Marimo balls then lower (but above freezing) temperatures. You can add ice cubes to your Marimo ball’s water or give them a spa day inside your refrigerator to help cool them down during excessive heat.
———————
Unfortunately, Wild Hearts Wild Life has been dealing with content scrappers stealing our content and posting it to other websites without permission. If you’re seeing this article posted anywhere besides wildheartswildlife.com it means you are seeing it on a content scalper’s site. Please consider contacting us to let us know, and stopping by to visit on our actual site! Thank you!