{"product_id":"lilaeopsis-in-pot","title":"Lilaeopsis In Pot | Lilaeopsis brasiliensis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLilaeopsis, or Brazilian Micro Sword, is a grass-like carpeting plant that forms a low, bright-green lawn across the foreground. It spreads by runners into a dense turf that looks superb in an aquascape and gives shrimp and fry somewhere to hide. It is not a moss but a true carpet plant, and it rewards good light – patience helps, as it establishes slowly before it takes off.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLilaeopsis brasiliensis comes from south-eastern South America, where it grows along the muddy margins of streams and shallow, slow water, both emersed on damp banks and submerged. In the aquarium it recreates that setting rooted in a nutrient-rich substrate under bright light, sending runners out to knit a carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealthy Lilaeopsis carries slender, upright, grass-like blades, fresh green and only 4–7 cm tall, rising from fine creeping runners just under the surface of the substrate. It looks like a miniature lawn rather than a sword or moss. Supplied in a pot of rockwool, the portion holds many small plantlets that can be split and spread to cover a wide area.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA foreground carpet plant. Divide the pot into small clumps and plant them across the front of the tank; over time the runners fill the gaps into a continuous lawn. Bright, even light reaching the substrate is key – shade from taller plants will thin it out. Trim the top occasionally to keep the carpet dense and level.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRemove the pot and rockwool, rinse the roots, and separate the plant into small clumps of a few blades each. Plant these into the substrate a couple of centimetres apart, pushing the roots in but keeping the crowns at surface level. It propagates by runners – new plantlets appear alongside the parents and fill in the carpet themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a plant that needs commitment: moderate to high light is important, and while CO2 is not strictly required, it makes a real difference to how fast and how densely the carpet forms – without it, growth is slow and can stay sparse. A nutrient-rich substrate, or root tabs plus liquid fertiliser, keeps it healthy. Keep it at 20–28 °C, pH around 6.0–7.5, in soft to moderately hard water. Growth is slow to moderate, so watch for algae on the leaves while it establishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLilaeopsis brasiliensis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrazilian Micro Sword, Micro Sword\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth-eastern South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–7 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to Moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground (carpet)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to High\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeneficial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNutrient-rich substrate \/ root tabs plus liquid fertiliser\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRunners (daughter plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground carpets, aquascapes, shrimp tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIdeal with small, peaceful fish and shrimp – dwarf shrimp, small tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids and otocinclus – which graze the carpet without tearing it up. The dense turf is excellent foraging ground and fry cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid diggers and substrate-sifters – large goldfish, many cichlids, loaches and burrowers – which uproot the shallow runners before they knit together. It also struggles in low light or when shaded, so keep the foreground open and well lit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234106917155,"sku":"BA8962","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/lilaeopsis-in-pot-43078151438627-v2.webp?v=1790321589","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/lilaeopsis-in-pot","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}