Micranthemum Callitrichoides ‘Cuba’ is one of the world’s smallest aquarium plants, creeping across the bottom with millimetre-sized, round leaves. Hemianthus callitrichoides is a popular foreground plant in small aquariums. It is not a difficult plant to grow, but it does require favourable conditions such as sufficient light, added CO2, water circulation, and fertiliser to thrive. If these conditions are difficult to achieve, Micranthemum ‘Monte-Carlo’ is a less demanding alternative. It spreads quickly and covers the ground like a carpet if planted in small clumps a few centimetres apart. Trim the carpet on a regular basis, or the lower parts will not receive enough light, resulting in root death. Found on the island of Cuba, west of Havana.
Hemianthus callitrichoides, also known as dwarf baby tears, was imported from Cuba by Tropica in 2004 and has thus only recently entered the hobby. During the dry season, Holger Windelv discovered the plant in a rocky river about 90 kilometres east of Havana. He safely assumed that during the rainy season, the entire population is submerged in waters up to 1 m deep with a strong current because of the dense, cushion-like population rooting in gravelly substrate.
With leaf sizes ranging from four to three millimetres, this Hemianthus species is the world’s smallest aquarium plant. It has long been one of the most popular aquascaping plants.
The majority of Hemianthus callitrichoides plants available for sale were grown emersed and have roundish leaves. Sometimes there are tiny white flowers in the axils. The submerged form resembles the above-ground form, with low carpet- or cushion-like growth. It has smaller and narrower leaves. It has mostly upright but very short stems with opposite leaves (two leaves per node) and both creeping and overhanging shoots. On both of these, the leaves frequently form whorls of three per node.
Hemianthus callitrichoides forms a dense, bright green plant carpet in 3 to 4 weeks when planted in small patches a few centimetres apart in the well-lit foreground of an aquarium. It forms decorative overhanging shots when planted in an elevated location.
In relation to light intensity, H. callitrichoides grows more compactly. Its optimum temperature is around 25 °C, but it can tolerate temperatures ranging from 20 to 28 °C. Although it is not always necessary to fertilise H. callitrichoides with CO2, the plant grows much healthier when it is. It is vulnerable to iron deficiencies, which manifest as yellow shoot tips. It should also receive an adequate supply of macronutrients, particularly nitrate.
H. callitrichoides is a highly attractive and recommendable aquarium plant due to its relative hardiness and very nice appearance. It is suitable not only for carpet-like structures in the foreground, but also for layouts with many stones as a nice accent in the crevices, reminding the observer of alpine cushion plants. It can even be affixed to driftwood, forming large bright green cushions with overhanging shoots. This miniature plant is ideal for nano tanks.
Hemianthus callitrichoides can be grown above the waterline in sufficiently bright light, where it forms more compact cushions than under water. It can be attached along the waterline of driftwood or rocks sticking out of the water in an open tank.
In Cuba, how does Hemianthus callitrichoides grow?
There are two ways to plant the HC Cuba plant. The first (and simplest) option is to remove the plants and Rockwool from their pots, cut them into 1cm/0.4″ squares, and plant them (including the Rockwool) into the Aquarium’s substrate.
Hemianthus callitrichoides grows how fast?
Hemianthus callitrichoides forms a dense, bright green plant carpet in 3 to 4 weeks when planted in small patches a few centimetres apart in the well-lit foreground of an aquarium.
Can HC Cuba be grown without CO2?
The HC Cuba plant is difficult to grow without CO2, and should only be attempted if you have spare time and plants to waste, but this method greatly increases your chances. Best species for growing without CO2: Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, Easy (Microsword
