Pearl Weed (Hemianthus Micranthemoides)

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

Planting & Care Guide

1. Divide into bundles of ~5–10 stems and plant ≈1–2 cm apart using tweezers .
2. Use nutrient-rich fine substrate (avoid crushing stems) .
3. Provide 6–10 hrs of quality light daily; higher intensity gives denser growth .
4. Trim every 1–2 weeks to maintain carpet and encourage lateral runners .
5. 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 .