Cuba (HC)
Micranthemum callitrichoides
One of the smallest and most demanding carpeting plants in the hobby. It produces a stunning, tight green lawn made of microscopic leaves. Requires high-intensity light, abundant fertilization, and mandatory CO2.
Wassertemperatur
20 - 28 °C
pH-Wert
6 - 7.5
Wassertyp
Süßwasser
Licht
Hoch
CO2
Hoch
Erwartete Höhe
3 cm
Erwartete Breite
5 cm
GH
4 - 20 dGH
KH
2 - 15 dKH
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Hemianthus callitrichoides is native to Cuba, particularly the rocky eastern regions. It grows along the beds of fast-flowing rivers, anchoring to wet rocks and gravel in shallow, clear water. In the wild, it receives intense sunlight and experiences frequent fluctuations in water levels.
Taxonomy & Genetics: Belonging to the Linderniaceae family (historically Scrophulariaceae), it is commonly known as "Cuba" or "HC." It was first discovered in 2003 by Holger Windeløv. It is one of the smallest aquarium plants in the world. Genetically, it has a highly accelerated metabolism under optimal conditions, requiring vast amounts of nutrients and carbon to sustain itself.
Physical Structure: The plant features extremely fine, creeping, and branching stems with microscopic leaves (1-2 mm in diameter) arranged in pairs. The roots are short, white, and very delicate, designed to anchor the plant in small rocky crevices or superficial soil.
Color & Texture: The leaves display a bright green or vibrant emerald green color. The texture is incredibly dense and compact, creating a tight foliage carpet that spreads over the substrate like a soft cushion, offering a superb visual impact in aquascaping layouts.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Lighting & CO2: Requires intense and consistent lighting. Under weak light, the plant stretches vertically, losing its creeping growth habit and decaying rapidly. CO2 injection is strictly mandatory (at least 20-30 mg/L) to prevent melting and stimulate photosynthesis.
Nutrition & Substrate: Demands a very fine-grained, fertilized substrate (active soil) to allow its delicate roots to anchor. It requires a constant and rich liquid fertilization regimen containing iron, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Water Chemistry: Thrives in temperatures between 20 and 26°C (68-79°F), with an optimal pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. It is highly sensitive to excessively warm water (above 27°C/80°F) and sudden changes in water chemistry.
Space Management & Placement: Used exclusively in the foreground as a carpeting plant. It should be planted by dividing the pot into tiny plugs and inserting them deeply into the fertile soil, leaving only a few leaves showing. It is ideal for the "Dry Start Method" (DSM).
Pruning: Regular pruning is critical: when the carpet exceeds a thickness of 2-3 cm, the lower layers risk rotting due to lack of light, causing the entire lawn to detach and float. Trim close to the substrate using wave scissors.
Risks & Diseases: The greatest risk is melting due to lack of light or CO2. Iron deficiency manifests immediately as yellowing and loss of vibrancy in the leaves. It is easily overrun by algae if nutrients are not perfectly balanced.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Hemianthus callitrichoides is native to Cuba, particularly the rocky eastern regions. It grows along the beds of fast-flowing rivers, anchoring to wet rocks and gravel in shallow, clear water. In the wild, it receives intense sunlight and experiences frequent fluctuations in water levels.
Ursprung
Mittelamerika und Karibik
Pflanzenprofil
- Platzierung
- Vordergrund
- This plant is strictly a foreground species, prized for creating the most compact and detailed carpets in aquascaping. It must be planted where it receives the absolute maximum amount of light, completely unshaded by hardscape or taller plants. Micranthemum callitrichoides can also be grown beautifully cascading over the edges of rocks or driftwood. It is highly favored in both large display tanks and meticulous nano aquascapes.
- Botanische Form
- Stängel
- Possessing some of the smallest leaves of any aquarium plant, Micranthemum callitrichoides consists of delicate, creeping stems lined with tiny, round leaves. The foliage is a brilliant, fresh green that creates a highly textured surface. Its root system is extremely fine and shallow, making initial planting a delicate process. Over time, it forms a mat several layers thick.
- Wachstum
- Mittel
- Under the high light and CO2 conditions it demands, Micranthemum callitrichoides grows at a moderate to fast pace. It spreads laterally via creeping stems that hug the substrate closely. If conditions are suboptimal, its growth stalls entirely and it quickly becomes susceptible to algae. Frequent trimming encourages faster, denser lateral growth and prevents it from uprooting itself.
- Substrat
- Hoch
- Hemianthus callitrichoides "Cuba" is exceptionally demanding regarding substrate, requiring a nutrient-rich, powder-type aqua soil for its tiny, delicate roots to take hold. A substrate depth of 3 to 4 centimeters allows the fine rootlets to anchor the plant safely while drawing up essential nutrients. Without a finely textured and highly fertile base, this plant will struggle to spread into its signature, ultra-dense carpet formation.
- Säulendüngung
- Erforderlich
- Because its root system is so fine, Micranthemum callitrichoides relies heavily on absorbing nutrients directly from the water column. A strict regime of liquid EI (Estimative Index) or similar comprehensive dosing is highly recommended. Adequate potassium is crucial to prevent the older leaves from developing pinholes. Heavy CO2 injection is non-negotiable for lush, vigorous growth.
- Wurzeldüngung
- Erforderlich
- While it draws significantly from the water column, a fine-grained, nutrient-rich powder-type aquasoil is vital for Micranthemum callitrichoides. The fine grains allow its incredibly small, delicate roots to anchor securely. Without a soft substrate, the creeping stems will float away before they can attach. Root tabs are less effective due to how shallow the roots penetrate.
- Trimmen
- Regelmäßig
- Regular and aggressive trimming is the secret to a healthy Micranthemum callitrichoides carpet. Use curved spring scissors to trim it very low, almost back to the substrate. If allowed to grow too thick, the bottom layers will receive no light, die off, and the entire carpet will detach and float to the surface. Clean up all floating trimmings immediately to prevent them from clogging filters.
- Ausbreitung
- Ausläufer
- Propagation is simple but tedious. Micranthemum callitrichoides is propagated by dividing portions of the carpet into small plugs and planting them in a grid pattern. As the stems grow horizontally, they naturally produce roots at each internode. Ensuring the plugs are planted deeply enough so they aren't uprooted by water flow or livestock is the primary challenge.
- Empfindlichkeit
- HIGH
- This is a famously sensitive plant that acts as an indicator species for aquarium health. Micranthemum callitrichoides will immediately show signs of distress if CO2 drops, light is insufficient, or flow is poor. It is highly susceptible to being smothered by diatoms or cyanobacteria in immature tanks. A stable, fully cycled environment with excellent water circulation is mandatory.
- Layoutrolle
- Vordergrund, Nano, group, accent
- The layout role of Micranthemum callitrichoides is to provide the ultimate fine-textured foreground carpet. It gives a profound sense of scale, making rocks look like massive mountains and the aquarium feel much larger than it is. It is the gold standard for Iwagumi aquascapes requiring meticulous detail. Its cascading growth habit also softens the transition between substrate and hardscape.
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