Overview
Hemianthus micranthemoides, known as Pearl Weed or Pearl Grass, is a vibrant and versatile aquarium plant. With its small rounded leaves, it thrives as a lush foreground carpet, midground bush, or even floating greenery. Native to North America, it’s beginner-friendly and adapts to a range of tank setups.
Key Features
- Versatile growth habit: Can be trimmed into a dense carpet or allowed to form compact bushes .
- Fast spread: Grows moderately to quickly (≈5–8 in/month) under proper conditions .
- Easy environment: Grows well under medium to high lighting; CO₂ is beneficial but not necessary .
- Adaptable water parameters: 19–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, hardness from soft to moderately hard environments .
- Simple propagation: Trim healthy stems and replant; roots easily in substrate .
Specifications
| Type | Stem plant / carpeting |
|---|---|
| Height | 5–15 cm (2–6 in), varies with trimming |
| Lighting | Moderate to high (≈25–50 lm/L or 0.5–2 W/L) |
| CO₂ | Optional; enhances density and growth speed |
| Water | Temperature 19–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, GH 1–20 °dGH |
| Growth rate | Moderate–fast, ≈5–8 in/month |
Planting & Care Guide
- Divide into bundles of ~5–10 stems and plant ≈1–2 cm apart using tweezers .
- Use nutrient-rich fine substrate (avoid crushing stems) .
- Provide 6–10 hrs of quality light daily; higher intensity gives denser growth .
- Trim every 1–2 weeks to maintain carpet and encourage lateral runners .
- Stabilize water conditions and add CO₂/liquid fertilizer if promoting lush spread .
Benefits in Aquascaping
- Elegant foreground: Creates a soft, natural lawn that contrasts beautifully with hardscape .
- Habitat provider: Offers cover and grazing surface for fry, shrimp, and microfauna .
- Algae deterrence: Fast spread and dense growth help limit algae in clean tanks .
- Flexibility: Suitable for carpets, midground accents, floating mats, or rock/wood mounts .
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