| "Probably my favorite purchase from this shop. Came potted, thick, and incredibly healthy. I can’t wait for it to get bigger!"
-D. Forrest Via Etsy |
Very similar in growing habits and needs to the popular Pearlweed, Baby Tears should be planted in the same way. It is a creeping grower that propagates through runners and branches. Quick growing, it is a haven for tiny fish and baby shrimp! This potted variety of "Hemianthus sp." is excellent for bare-bottomed tanks!
Although Co2 is not at all needed, you'll see denser, lower carpeting growth with a higher-tech set up.
Baby tears is well- rooted and potted, at 4-6" tall.
EMERGENT-GROWN
Cassandra’s Notes:
We get a lot of questions about separating these sort of plants from the potted rockwool it's in.
Yes, you can absolutely leave the rockwool in your tank!
It’s pretty inert, and will not harm your tank nor its inhabitants. If you want to keep it potted, you totally can!
That said, if the rockwool is really not doing it for you, but you’re worried about disturbing too much of the delicate root system these creepers have built, try this:
Use some scissors to snip apart the top of the rockwool where the plant has rooted from the bottom. Snip into a flat circle, resembling a ‘mat’ of sorts. Now you can place that little mat in the gravel or other substrate, without having torn up too much of the root system!
Growing Suggestions:
- Medium to Low light needs
- Low tech, unheated aquarium, 60-80F
- Fast upright/ creeping growth rate
- Root tabs recommended: No
- Excellent forage and shelter!
As I like to keep real ecosystems in my aquariums, there's always the possibility of harmless snail or dwarf shrimp hitchhikers!