Hemianthus Callitrichoides 'Cuba' (Dwarf Baby Tears)

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

HC; Dwarf Baby Tears; Cuba HC; Micranthemum callitrichoides

Synonyms

Micranthemum callitrichoides 'Cuba White'

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Captive-bred variety

Habitat

Cultivated variegated selection of Hemianthus callitrichoides; the wild-type species grows submersed and emersed along rocky rivers near Havana, Cuba

Sourcing

Tissue culture

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Difficult

Growth form

Carpeting

Max height

0.5 – 1.5 in (1.3 – 3.8 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Foreground, Carpet

Water

Temperature

68 – 80 °F (20 – 27 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.0

GH

2 – 8 dGH

PAR

50 – 100 PAR

Flow

Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Required

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich required

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

High

Colors

Cream, Variegated, Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Runners, Rhizome division

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Care guide

Overview

Selected from populations growing along rocky Cuban rivers, this cultivar has become a standard foreground carpet grown worldwide from tissue culture. Its leaves are among the smallest of any aquarium plant, forming a dense low mat when given ample light and consistent care. High light, pressurized CO2, and regular fertilization are needed to keep growth compact rather than leggy.

Care

This variegated sport of dwarf baby tears loses chlorophyll in patches of its leaves, which gives it a pale cream to white mottled look but also makes it noticeably more demanding than the standard green form. It needs unobstructed, high-intensity lighting reaching the substrate and mandatory pressurized CO2 to avoid stunting and reversion toward green. Water changes and dosing should be kept consistent, since sudden shifts in parameters are a common trigger for melt in newly planted portions.

Planting & trimming

Rinse the tissue-culture gel thoroughly from the roots before separating the mat into small clumps for planting. Press portions gently into fine aquasoil, or use fine-tipped tweezers to tuck them in at a shallow angle, leaving a few leaves exposed above the surface. A dry-start or wabi-kusa method is often used to let roots establish before flooding, and regular trimming keeps the carpet low and prevents the lower leaves from dying back from shading.

Fertilizing

Plant into a nutrient-rich aquasoil and supplement with a complete liquid fertilizer dosed regularly, since this cultivar has limited chlorophyll and cannot rely purely on photosynthesis to drive growth. Iron and micronutrient dosing is important, as deficiency shows up quickly as pale or yellowing new leaves. Root tabs can help during the initial establishment period but are secondary to consistent water column fertilization.

Propagation

Propagates by cutting and replanting runners once the carpet has filled in and spread laterally across the substrate. Established mats can also be lifted and divided into smaller clumps for replanting elsewhere in the tank or in a new setup.

Problems

Melt after planting or during acclimation is common, especially since tissue-cultured portions must shed their sterile gel and adjust to tank water before rooting. Because it carries less chlorophyll than the green form, this variety is more prone to stalling out or reverting to a greener coloration if light or CO2 drop even briefly. Algae can quickly overtake the fine leaves if the carpet is left untrimmed or if the plant is struggling rather than actively growing.

Sources

1. Hemianthus Callitrichoides 'Cuba White' - Aquarium Plant
2. Micranthemum callitrichoides 'Cuba' - Tropica Aquarium Plants
3. Hemianthus callitrichoides "Cuba" - Dwarf baby tears - Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
4. Hemianthus callitrichoides (Dwarf Baby Tears)

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