Plant Profiles

Microcarpaea minima

Live freshwater plant Microcarpaea minima - Needle-leaf Pygmyweed for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Microcarpaea minima - Needle-leaf Pygmyweed. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Microcarpaea minima
Needle-leaf Pygmyweed
$17.95

Microcarpaea minima, is a fast-growing tropical aquatic plant native to Australia, Japan, India and South East Asia. It is quite rare in the aquarium hobby, despite it being an excellent carpeting plant.

This native species makes a fantastic foreground plant, responding well to pruning to form dense, light green bushes. It spreads across the substrate via runners and can also quickly form a carpet in ideal conditions. In high light, high-tech tanks, it tends to grow low across the substrate and not need trimming. In medium light tanks, a Microcarpaea carpet will require occasional trimming as the stems grow longer. It will generally grow out across the substrate before growing upwards. Microcarpaea minima looks quite different to many other foreground plants, with its almost needle-like, narrow leaves and slender stems.

This is not a particularly demanding aquarium plant, but does require strong lighting and warm water to grow well. This warmth-loving plant will grow well in temperatures above 20°C, and likes soft to medium-hard water. CO2 supplementation is also highly recommended for denser growth.

Planting is best done with tweezers to place individual stems or small clusters into the substrate, ensuring they are spaced slightly apart. As Microcarpaea minima grows and spreads, regular pruning may be necessary to maintain the desired height and shape of the bush.

Although it looks similar to another native species, Crassula helmsii, this plant is not closely related - belonging instead to the Phrymaceae family with other plants like Glossostigma.

Overall, Microcarpaea minima stands out as an excellent native option for the aquarium foreground, offering an intriguing choice for enthusiasts looking to diversify their aquatic plant collection.

Requirements and information

Temperature:
TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:
CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:

Medium

Water nutrients:

Medium

Light demand:

High

CO2:

Medium

Height:

Low

Growth rate:

Vigorous

Growth habit:

Stem

Creeping

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Native to: