Eleocharis pusilla 'Mini' is one of the smallest hair grasses and is often used in aquascapes to look like a grassy field or lawn. This slow-growing species stays around 1–2 inches (3–5 cm) tall and therefore requires minimal trimming. For the best growth, use a tank setup with medium to high lighting and CO2 gas. Provide a nutrient-rich substrate (such as aquatic soil or a well-established, non-soil substrate), and the plant will propagate by sending out runners that form a lush carpet in your aquarium.
***Being a natural product, the plant appearance can vary from what is shown.***
1. Upon receiving the tissue culture plant, immediately open the container and rinse off any excess liquid from the roots.
2. Gently separate the plant into multiple small clumps.
3. Insert each plant start or clump into the substrate using planting tweezers or your fingers so that the roots are completely buried but the leaves are above the substrate.
4. Once the plant has become well-established, you can trim the tips with plant scissors for a tidier look.
5. Make sure to add lots of root tabs if you’re using inert substrate or if your nutrient-rich substrate is depleted.
— Eleocharis pusilla care requires medium skill level, so start by using high lighting between 40-50+ PAR.
— Why is my Eleocharis pusilla melting? This plant is grown out of the water at the farm and needs time to create new leaves that are used to living underwater. To help the plant recover faster and grow new leaves that are accustomed to your water parameters, leave the roots planted in the ground and make sure to provide nutrient-rich planted tank substrate or Easy Root Tabs.
— Why is my Eleocharis pusilla turning yellow? If your plant is getting enough light, it may be a nutrient deficiency. If the leaves are yellowing or turning pale after a couple of months, please add more root tabs.
— How to trim Eleocharis pusilla: If the plant has dying or melting leaves, cut them off at the base of the leaf. If you wish to prune your Eleocharis pusilla carpet to look like a field of grass, use curved scissors to cut all of the leaves to an even height, much like mowing a lawn.
Once it becomes well-established, Eleocharis pusilla self-propagates by sending out runners all across the substrate, which can eventually provide ground cover for an entire aquarium. The new baby plants can be trimmed off and replanted or left to grow out naturally.