Spiderwood (Azalea Roots)

Spider Wood is a type of driftwood that is becoming very popular in the aquarium niche. The wood is acquired from the root section of various species within the genus Rhododendron. These perennial plants are a type of shrub that grows shallow roots through and sometimes above the soil. This shrub root garnishes its nickname “Spider Wood” from the unusual formation of its branches often resembling a dead spider.

Above all, It is always a good idea to sterilize driftwood when you first receive it. A light brushing will knock excess dirt and sand off. If additional cleaning is required, pressure washing Spider Wood would be the next step in cleaning it. If the pieces of wood are small enough to fit in a pot, boiling the wood is a definite way to kill bacteria as well as saturate the wood from tannins that will lead to water coloration.

Spider Wood is without a doubt one for the hardest driftwood to sink. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible. There are a number of ways to combat the buoyancy, it just depends on the amount of time and effort being applied.

If you are opting to presoak the driftwood prior to usage… Expect this method will take several weeks depending on the size of the wood piece. Use a heavy, inert object to hold the wood under warm water. The hotter the water, the quicker the overall process will take.

A faster method of sinking will be to mount the wood piece to a heavier rock. Slate rocks are perfect for this because they are dense and narrow making them easy to cover up with substrate. Drill a hole into the rock and screw the wood into the top of the rock and that should be enough to hold the driftood in place.