Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo'

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

New Large Pearl Grass; Monte Carlo

Synonyms

Micranthemum sp. 'Monte Carlo'; Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo'

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Argentina

Habitat

Wet streambanks, riverbanks and pond edges in shallow water, typically growing emersed along margins

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Carpeting

Max height

0.5 – 2 in (1.3 – 5.1 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Foreground, Epiphyte

Water

Temperature

68 – 77 °F (20 – 25 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

1 – 10 dGH

dKH

1 – 6 dKH

PAR

35 – 50 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Runners, Cuttings, Rhizome division

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Care guide

Overview

Suits aquascapers who want a dense green foreground without the difficulty of Dwarf Baby Tears. Tiny round leaves knit into a low, rolling mat over runners and rhizomes, tolerating a wider range of light and CO2 than most true carpeting plants. Regular trimming keeps growth horizontal and the carpet tight rather than leggy.

Care

Monte Carlo tolerates a broader range of light and CO2 levels than Hemianthus callitrichoides, making it a more forgiving option for building a low, dense foreground carpet. It grows fastest and stays most compact under moderate to high light with CO2 injection and a nutrient-rich substrate, but it will still spread, just more slowly and less densely, in a low-tech setup. Regular trimming once the carpet fills in encourages lateral spreading rather than vertical growth and keeps the mat tight.

Planting & trimming

Separate tissue culture or potted portions into small clumps and press them into a fine, nutrient-rich substrate a couple of centimeters apart, leaving just the leaf tips exposed. It can also be grown emersed using the dry start method, which often produces a fuller carpet before flooding, or attached as an epiphyte to hardscape with a dab of superglue or by wedging it into gaps. Trim every few weeks with sharp scissors once established to keep the mat low and encourage horizontal spread.

Fertilizing

This plant feeds through both its roots and the water column, so a nutrient-rich substrate such as aquasoil paired with liquid fertilizer dosing gives the best results. Root tabs placed beneath the carpet support the fine root system, while iron and nitrogen supplementation in the water column helps prevent the pale or yellowing leaves associated with deficiency. Under low light without added CO2, reduce dosing slightly to avoid algae buildup on the slow-growing mat.

Propagation

New plants form readily from creeping runners that root at each node, and established mats can simply be cut into sections and replanted elsewhere. Horizontal cuttings pressed into substrate will root and spread on their own given adequate light and nutrients.

Problems

Melt can occur shortly after planting, especially when transitioning stock grown emersed into submerged conditions, but new growth typically recovers within a couple of weeks. Hair algae readily attaches to the dense low mat if light and CO2 are not balanced with nutrient dosing, so a stable photoperiod of around 6-8 hours is advisable. Leggy, upright growth instead of a flat carpet usually signals insufficient light reaching the substrate.

Sources

1. Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo' - Tropica
2. Micranthemum tweediei (Monte Carlo) Care — Practical Guide for UK Aquarists – Diapteron Shop
3. Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei) - Scale & Stem
4. Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei) Care & Tank Mates, Fin & Stem

More Carpet plants

Glossostigma ElatinoidesHemianthus Callitrichoides 'Cuba' (Dwarf Baby Tears)Hemianthus Callitrichoides 'Cuba White'Hydrocotyle TripartitaHydrocotyle VerticillataMarsilea Crenata