🌿 All About Hemianthus micranthemoides (Pearl Weed) – Growow TC Cup

Hemianthus micranthemoides, commonly known as Pearl Weed, is a versatile, fast-growing carpeting plant admired for its fine, bright green leaves and adaptability. It resembles a miniature version of Hydrocotyle tripartita but grows in a more structured, upright or creeping manner. Supplied in a Growow Tissue Culture (TC) Cup, it ensures a pest-free, healthy start ideal for aquascapers and planted tank beginners alike.

🔍 Quick Overview

• Scientific Name: Hemianthus micranthemoides

• Common Name: Pearl Weed, Micranthemum

• Family: Scrophulariaceae

• Type: Stem / carpet plant

• Origin: North America

🌱 Plant Characteristics

• Height: 5–15 cm

• Leaf Shape: Tiny, round to oval

• Color: Bright to medium green

• Growth Habit: Can be trimmed low for carpeting or left to grow vertically

• Growth Speed: Fast

💧 Tank Requirements

• Lighting: Medium to high (strong light helps compact growth)

• CO₂: Optional, but greatly improves density and speed

• Substrate: Nutrient-rich (aqua soil or root tabs recommended)

• Water Parameters:

  • pH: 5.5–7.5

  • Temperature: 20–28°C

  • Hardness: Soft to medium

🧪 Growow TC Cup Benefits

• Tissue culture format: Free from snails, algae, pathogens

• Can be broken into small clumps to cover larger areas

• Quicker rooting and acclimatization

• Safe for shrimp tanks and sensitive species

🌟 Why Choose Pearl Weed?

• Excellent carpeting plant – perfect alternative to Monte Carlo or HC Cuba

• Easy to grow and maintain in low to high-tech setups

• Can be used for midground hedges or fine detail trimming

• Great for nano tanks, nature-style aquascapes, and jungle layouts

🧠 Aquascaping Tips

• Frequent trimming helps maintain compact, carpeted look

• Without trimming, it grows upward like a mini stem plant

• Can be trained to trail over rocks, driftwood, or sloped substrates

• Combine with:

  • Eleocharis acicularis (for texture)

  • Rotala rotundifolia 'Green' (for background layering)

  • Bucephalandra sp. (for contrast)

💡 Pro Tip: For a smooth foreground carpet, plant small pearl weed tufts a few centimeters apart and trim regularly to encourage horizontal spreading.