Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo' is a classic carpeting plant native to Argentina. It has similar growth needs and behaviors to Pearlweed and Glossostigma.
Perfect for a higher-tech setup, Monte Carlo grows quickly and densely with appropriate high lighting, co2 and fertilizers. You'll love the dense carpet of these tiny leaves.
This plant comes rooted in a 2" net pot, and ready to go!
Looking for something a lot less needy? Try a pot of Pearlweed!
Grown EMERGENT
Growing Suggestions:
- High light needs, Co2 Recommended!
- 60-80F
- Fast, low/ creeping growth rate, 1-2" high
- Root tabs recommended: Yes
- Excellent forage and shelter!
Cassandra's Notes:
Similarly to Glosso, Monte Carlo will start to yellow and become leggy without enough light and fertilizer. You'll definitely need to keep trimming for this plant to look it's best!
As the roots can be very weak and delicate, I'd suggest setting aside quite some time to get this planted. Expect that you'll need to re-plant runaway segments! Long, delicate tweezers help. I've had some minor success sprinkling a very thin layer of sand over a carpet I'm trying to establish. Not enough to smother, or block any light, but just enough to weigh the plant down until it gets established into the substrate. Very delicate roots!
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!
As I like to keep real ecosystems in my aquariums, there's always the possibility of harmless snail or dwarf shrimp hitchhikers!