{"product_id":"micranthemum-umbrosum-takashi","title":"Giant Baby Tears | Micranthemum umbrosum","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGiant Baby Tears carries rows of small, rounded bright-green leaves along creeping stems, bringing a soft, fresh look to the foreground or midground. Trimmed low it creeps into a loose carpet; left tall it climbs into a mound of tumbling green. \"Takashi\" is simply our supplier's name for it – botanically it is the widely grown Micranthemum umbrosum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicranthemum umbrosum grows in the wetlands, stream edges and damp ground of the south-eastern United States, Central America and the Caribbean, often emersed on saturated soil and submerging when water rises. It adapts readily to full submersion in the aquarium, where bright light and stable, warm water suit it best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaired, penny-shaped leaves a few millimetres across sit closely along soft stems, giving a bubbly, rounded texture that reads as a fresh light green. Under strong light and with trimming it stays compact and creeping; in lower light or left uncut it grows upward, taller and leggier, and can serve as a low background plant. The portion sold is a bunch of stems that you separate and grow on into a stand or carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersatile across the foreground and midground. For a carpet, cut the stems short and plant them in small clumps a few centimetres apart, trimming regularly to force horizontal spread; for a bushier midground look, plant denser and let it mound. Frequent trimming keeps it tidy and encourages branching.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRemove any pot and rockwool, divide into small portions, and plant each into the substrate with tweezers. It propagates from cuttings and creeping runners – trim the tops, replant them, and both the cutting and the parent will branch. Replanting healthy tops is the quickest way to build coverage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGive it moderate to high light for compact, carpeting growth; in low light it stretches and thins. CO2 is not strictly required but strongly recommended if you want a tight, low carpet rather than upward growth. Feed with a complete liquid fertiliser and provide a nutrient-rich substrate. Comfortable at 20–28 °C, pH around 6.0–7.5. Growth is fast, so plan on routine trimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMicranthemum umbrosum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGiant Baby Tears\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth-eastern USA, Central America and the Caribbean\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–15 cm (creeping when trimmed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast\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 to Midground\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 (recommended for carpeting)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiquid fertiliser and nutrient-rich substrate\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\u003eSoft to moderately hard (2–12)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCuttings and runners\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\u003eCarpets, aquascapes, planted community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish and shrimp suit it well – small tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids and gouramis. Shrimp graze the soft leaves and help keep the carpet clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGoldfish, digging cichlids and silver dollars will uproot and graze soft carpets. In low-light tanks without CO2 it will not stay low or dense, so it is best skipped in true low-tech setups.\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":55234092040483,"sku":"AA3119","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/micranthemum-umbrosum-takash-43078223233315-v2.webp?v=1790321588","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/micranthemum-umbrosum-takashi","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}