Kar #1, Sydamerika – Elofs akvarium

Micranthemum umbrosum is a beautiful plant from US with small round leaves. It is suitable for small or large aquariums with stems becoming 10-25 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. Relatively demanding in terms of light. CO2 addition will promote growth.
Once the plant starts growing, it grows fast, and the shoots need to be pinched out often (can be planted as cuttings in the soil). Most beautiful in groups of many stems.

Type: Stem
Origin: North America
Growth rate:
Height: 10 – 15+
Light demand: Medium
CO2 : Medium

Hemianthus glomeratus

Hemianthus glomeratus is a delicate stem plant from Florida. In the hobby, it has long been known under the erroneous name H. micranthemoides (or Micranthemum micranthemoides). It was recently identified correctly in the USA. With its small, light green curved leaves it is nice for beautiful dense group plantings. Under intensive light it tends to develop a creeping growth habit and thus can be used as foreground plant for strongly-lit tanks. However, it is better-suited for bushy groups in the middle ground of larger tanks or for the background of nano aquaria. Under strong light it can also be cultivated emerged, given that the substrate is kept moist. Then you’ll get a dense mat with very small leaves.

Eleocharis montevidensis

This American Eleocharis has a fresh grass green colour and grows to be 20-40cm high. It is basic and low maintenance. Each straw is only few millimeters thick and the plant maintains an open form of growth. It is suitable as a background plant, and can further be planted in front and in the centre of the aquarium, in transparent wads, in order to create depth and perspective. The plant spreads through runners, which occasionally have to be trimmed and maybe planted elsewhere.

Type: Stolon
Origin: North America
Growth rate: Medium
Height: 20 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Low

Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa caroliniana originates from US and has been used as an aquarium plant for many years. Stems become 10-30 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, branching willingly from the bottom. It has few demands and thus very convenient for beginners. Its slow growth rate makes it one of the few stem plants that do not need much attention.
Like most stem plants, it is most decorative when planted in small groups. Easy to propagate by cuttings; take a side shoot and plant it in the bottom.

Type: Stem
Origin: North America
Growth rate: Slow
Height: 20 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Low

Heteranthera zosterifolia

Heteranthera zosterifolia from South America is an extremely beautiful plant, which forms a lot of side shoots and thus quickly forms a bushy plant group.

Stems can become 30-50 cm tall and 6-12 cm wide. Leaves often become black on the back. In strong light growth is intensive, and the plant must be pruned before it becomes so compact that no light reaches the lower leaves. Water roots often form on the stem. Those are easily cut and replanted.

In open aquariums, it forms small blue flowers if some shoots are allowed to spread on the surface.

Plant info
Type: Stem
Origin: South America
Growth rate: High
Height: 20 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Medium