Spiderwood

Spider Wood is the hard-scape artist’s secret weapon: a naturally intricate root crown harvested from old Rhododendron (Azalea) shrubs, professionally cleaned, and kiln–dried. Each piece explodes outward in fine, finger-thin branches that mimic mangrove roots or an ancient tree skeleton, letting you build dramatic “bonsai” layouts, shrimp hide-outs, or towering root systems in minutes.

Typical Applications

• Freshwater & planted aquariums – create “tree-scape” canopies, root tangles for nano fish, or shrimp grazing grounds.
• Terrariums & bioactive vivariums – light enough to silicone-mount on vertical backgrounds for dart frogs or geckos.
• Ripariums & paludariums – the natural flare sits partly submerged, giving emergent stems a realistic anchor.
• Wabi-kusa & bonsai projects – combine with ADA-style soil mounds for living bonsai islands.

Preparation & Care

• Rinse & scrub under tap water to remove field dust.
• Water-log – It will take a while for the wood to sink, so either weigh it down with stones, or wait patiently.
• Optional H₂O₂ dip (3 %) for  5 min if you’re concerned about mold spores. You shouldn't though.
• Attach plants with cotton thread or cyanoacrylate gel; most will root in 2–4 weeks.
• White biofilm? Totally normal in month 1; scrape or let fish polish it off.

With normal filtration the light tea stain disappears after several water changes. Expect a service life of 3–5 years fully submerged, longer in terraria.

Eco & Ethical Sourcing

Our supplier works with tea-plantation cooperatives in Yunnan and northern Thailand to reclaim stumps from sustainable re-planting cycles. Wood is heat-treated, then finished in New Zealand to ensure it is pest-free and ready for aquarium use.

What You’ll Receive

• One hand-selected Spider Wood root in the size category you choose
  
• 30-day hard-scape happiness guarantee—swap it if the shape doesn’t spark joy, just keep it unused and dry.

Upgrade your aquascape from “sticks in a pile” to a living underwater forest—the moment this gnarled root hits your tank, nature’s aesthetic takes over.  

Inspiration