Dwarf Hairgrass Mini
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Plant information
Dwarf Hairgrass Mini
About this plant
The shortest of the hairgrasses — fine blades that stop around two inches instead of stretching to six, so it carpets rather than falls over. It spreads by runners into a dense green lawn without the constant trimming standard dwarf hairgrass demands.
What you'll receive
Fresh, healthy Dwarf Hairgrass Mini cultivated and prepared by Aquarium Plants Factory®, available in convenient planting formats:
Bare-Root Plants: Approximately 1 small clump of Dwarf Hairgrass Mini.
Bunched Plants: Approximately 1 small clumps bundled together with foam and a plant weight for easy placement.
Potted Plants: Approximately 1 small clumps securely potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and easy planting.
- Photos are for reference; blade length, density and color vary with lighting, CO₂ and nutrients.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
Plant details
- Common name
- Dwarf Hairgrass Mini, Mini Hairgrass
- Scientific name
- Eleocharis sp. 'Mini'
- Also known as
- Eleocharis acicularis 'Mini', Eleocharis sp. Belem
- Origin
- Cultivated dwarf form
- Placement
- Foreground carpet
- Shipped size
- Approx. 1 small clump, roughly 1-2 in
- Mature height
- 1–2 in
- Suits
- 5 gallons and up
- Growth rate
- Medium
Care guide
- DifficultyIntermediate
- LightMedium to high. Light must reach the substrate, not just the surface
- CO₂Recommended
- Water68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- SubstrateRequired. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
- Growth habitAmphibious. Also grows emersed
- PropagationRunners
At a glance
Grower's notes
- Separate the clump into small portions of six to ten blades and plant them about an inch apart. Planted as one lump, it stays a lump.
- It feeds through its roots. Use aquasoil or push root tabs under the carpet — water-column dosing alone produces thin, pale growth.
- Trim the tips once it knits together. Cutting triggers runner production and thickens the mat.
- Grown emersed, so the first blades yellow and die back as it converts. New growth comes from the crown within one to two weeks.
- Carpeting a large area? The Bulk Pack works out cheaper per clump. Also available as sterile Vitro Culture.
How it arrives
A sealed Vitro Culture® bag
Lab-grown plantlets in nutrient gel, free of snails, algae and pests.
- Keep it sealed at room temperature, out of direct sun, until you're ready to plant.
- Rinse off all the gel under lukewarm water. Left in the tank, it clouds the water and feeds algae.
- Split into small portions and plant with tweezers. Small portions spread faster than one big clump.
Normal: a little melt in the first weeks as underwater leaves replace the leaves grown in the lab.
Rooted plants in a net pot with rockwool
The most stable option, with roots already established.
- Rinse the plant under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or ease the plant out and gently tease away the rockwool. Either way works.
- For epiphytes like Anubias and Bucephalandra, keep the rhizome above the substrate or tie it to wood or rock.
Fresh-cut stems in a net pot with rockwool
Freshly cut stems without roots, held upright in a net pot for a quick setup.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or remove the stems and plant them one by one, an inch or two deep.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
Easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rinse the bunch under clean water.
- Place the bunch as is, or remove the foam and weight and plant each one separately.
- Give each plant room so light reaches the lower leaves.
Fresh-cut stems bundled with foam and a plant weight
Freshly cut stems without roots, ready to drop in.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Remove the foam and weight and plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, for the fullest look. You can also place the bunch as is.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Loose, rooted plants
No pot or foam, so you can place them exactly where you want.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant the roots into the substrate.
- Trim any broken leaves; new growth follows once settled.
Loose, fresh-cut stems
Freshly cut stems without roots, for full flexibility.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, with a little space between them.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
A bulb, ready to sprout
Bulbs ship either dormant or already sprouted with leaves, depending on the option you choose.
- Rinse the bulb under clean water.
- Rest it on the substrate or press the base in slightly. Don't bury the top.
- A dormant bulb can take a few weeks to send up its first leaves.
A young sprouted tuber
Ready to pot up and grow into a full plant.
- Pot it in a wide container of heavy garden soil, crown just above the soil.
- Start shallow and lower it deeper as the leaves grow.
- Give it full sun once the leaves reach the surface.
Attached to hardscape
Already growing on rock or wood, so it's ready to place.
- Rinse the piece under clean water.
- Place it anywhere in your layout. No planting needed.
- Keep the rhizome out of the substrate.
Packed fresh to travel well
- Open the box as soon as it arrives.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant or place them the same day if you can.
Check your plants within 24 hours of delivery. That's your Live Arrival Guarantee window.
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee
Live Arrival Guarantee
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Shipping Information
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
FAQs
What is your return policy?
All sales are final, so we don’t accept returns or exchanges once your order ships.
The one exception: if your plants arrive dead or damaged, our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee covers a replacement, store credit or refund. Just email clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, within 24 hours of delivery.
Can you cancel my order?
We can only cancel your order if it hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the cancellation will be possible. Please reach out to us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
What is your shipping policy?
We ship your order as soon as possible. Most orders ship within 1–2 business days, except live animals and backordered items.
Shipping speed depends on the carrier; you can choose the shipping service at checkout.
View more at Shipping Information.
Can I change my shipping address?
We can only update your shipping address if the order hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the change will be possible. Please contact us with the updated address as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
How does “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” work?
Add 3 or more eligible plants from our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Collection to your cart to activate the automatic discount. Mix and match freely. For every 3 eligible plants, your lowest-priced eligible plants are free at checkout.
View the Buy 2 Get 1 Free Terms.
Would it be possible to hold my order?
Unfortunately, we’re unable to hold orders for live plants because of high demand and quick sell-outs. Please place your order when you’re ready for us to ship it promptly.
What is your Live Arrival Guarantee policy?
We offer a 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If your order arrives dead, email at least two clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging and a photo of the shipping label within 24 hours of delivery. After 24 hours, conditions are out of our control.
View more at 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee Policy.
Are your plants free from pests, algae, and pesticides?
Our plants are very clean, but we can’t guarantee they will be 100% free of hitchhikers (snails, algae, pests), because we can’t be responsible for your aquarium. We recommend rinsing all plants with clean water and quarantining them before use.
Plants in our Tissue Culture collection are 100% free of pests and algae and have never been in contact with any aquarium.
We don’t guarantee our plants are free of pesticides. We use homemade, organic pesticides in our greenhouse to control pests, and never pesticides containing copper, which is toxic to invertebrates such as snails, crabs, and shrimp.
We don’t guarantee your aquarium’s success and aren’t responsible for its inhabitants, including but not limited to fish, shrimp, snails, and turtles. Please quarantine all plants before use!
Are your plants grown emersed or submerged?
It depends on the species. Most of our plants are grown hydroponically in a controlled-environment greenhouse.
Common stem plants such as Ludwigia, Bacopa, and Myriophyllum, and rheophyte/epiphyte plants (Anubias, Bucephalandra, Microsorum, Bolbitis, etc.) are grown emersed, hydroponically, in a controlled high-humidity environment.
True aquatic plants that can’t grow emersed — such as Vallisneria, Elodea, Najas, Cabomba, Potamogeton gayi, and Ceratophyllum demersum — are always cultivated submerged, underwater.
Should I remove the foam, weight, or pot before planting?
It’s totally up to you — we usually keep them as they are!
What’s the difference between fresh-cut, bare-root, and potted plants?
All options offer the same high quality; they differ in how they are prepared and packaged:
- Fresh-cut Plants: loose, freshly cut plants without roots. Great flexibility if you prefer to plant them your own way.
- Fresh-cut Bunched: freshly cut plants without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight, ready to place in your aquarium.
- Fresh-cut Potted: freshly cut plants without roots, potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and a quick setup.
- Bare-root Plants: loose, rooted plants you can position exactly where you want.
- Rooted Bunched: rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight — easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rooted Potted: rooted plants potted in a net pot with rockwool — maximum stability and a low-maintenance setup.
Choose based on your planting preference and your aquarium setup.
Noxious weed info
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Why Aquarium Plants Factory?
How we grow, clean and pack your Dwarf Hairgrass Mini.
Aquarium Plants Factory
Typical online shops
Customers praised this carpeting plant for arriving healthy with "great packaging." The grass stays "nice and short" and is hardy. Some noted quantity could be larger and it requires fine substrate for planting. One shopper mentioned it needs CO2 supplementation. Overall, customers report thriving plants with visible growth.
- Good looking plants and great packaging!!
- Some of the best packaging I've ever seen. Amazing place to order from!
- Some of the best dwarf hairgrass I've ever received. I'm really happy with this.
I bought a good amount of plants from APF both to set up a new 10 gallon Betta Tank and add to our existing 75 gallon community tank. The plants came in very well packaged and in great health. We just did a second order to add a bit more to the 75 gallon since we now know how great the plants are coming in.
My tank is currently on week 2.5 of the dry start, and this plant is doing phenomenal. Have these spread out in the tank, waiting for them to start spreading
Arrived looking nice and healthy green and packaged well. Didn't think to take a picture of how it was packaged as soon as I opened it.
Planted them in my tank gravel for now during a fishless cycle but will be grabbing some better substrate to split the bundles up and plant them properly ASAP.
I got 2 bunches of this for a small shrimp bowl. This was some of the best dwarf hairgrass I've ever received. I'm really happy with this.
Well packed. The grass looks great.
This is the cutest little tuft of grass! I’m very excited to see this grow. When I decided to do a planted tank, this is the only plant I was 100% sure I was going to get. I was a bit anxious to order online, but after lots of research, I decided to chance it. I’m so glad I did!! These plants showed up healthy and clean. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I got 1 small tuft of grass which I was able to pull apart and spread it out in my tank. I ordered 3 plants and ended up with 7 smaller tufts after separating them. They came in sealed bags in an insulation lined box. Very happy with my purchase and will definitely buy from here again!
The plants arrived safely and in many layers of thermal packaging, which is greatly appreciated since it's currently winter. After about three days, new growth is already visible! Over all, just a very healthy set of plants here! This is my first time working with live plants, and will definitely be returning to make other selections while setting this up!
Very pleased with my order, I will be a return customer for sure
So far they r doing great arrived in great shape they r only 2 weeks old keeping fingers crossed they r so cute
Came in really green & healthy looking, and a great deal! But I am a newbie and only have eco-complete and it was SUPER hard to plant them & keep them in the substrate. They started both dying massively by browning and also with long flyaway strings coming out of the substrate, as you can see in photos. By several months in, I had to remove to avoid ammonia in my tank water, and so I don't have them any more :( Only go for them if you have sandy or fine cap to your substrate!!! Perhaps they should add a warning to this effect in description. If you do have that, then I imagine they would probably thrive as other people have found!
Healthy
These mini grasses are absolutely adorable! They arrived quickly and were so green and healthy! They look great in my tanks, I’m so happy with these and I will be ordering more soon!!!
Received more than enough for a 16” by 2” carpet.
Good looking plants and great packaging!!
My favorite carpeting plant. These have been very hardy for me and stay nice and short. Ive ordered a few of these now and I actually usuallg leave mine in the bags and float them in an aquarium right under a 60W light. Eventually some tank water gets into the bag but after a month or so theres a substanital amount of growth, i assume from being 3 inches from the light. Not necesary at all but in my experience it grows much faster this way than when its planted in a low tech setup which can really kickstart your carpet.
Height is spot on. Can't wait for it to cover bottom of the aquarium.
They all came in a reasonable time. All were packaged very neatly and all alive and thriving in my tank. They fit along with the other plants very well and my fish live them.
The grass is doing great I have them planted and looking good so far .
I live in MN and was super nervous to receive plants on the mail when it’s 0 degrees outside. It all came tenderly packed, healthy, and they are now thriving. I will be buying from APF again!
The dwarf hair grass showed up looking amazing. Some of the best packaging I've ever seen. Amazing place to order from will definitely do again! 10 out of 10 recommend
This little tuft of grass was prefect when it arrived. Sadly, it turned yellow and died, but this was 100% my fault. I'm new to aquascaping and chose this plant based on the carpet it could provide and it's small size. In my excitement, I didn't realize it needed co2 supp, so the fault is purely mine 😞 all my other plants arrived in prefect condition and are thriving though, so I will be back with knowledge on my side this time. Hoping for some moss and anubias to add some depth to my aquariums
Arrived nice looking, really small clump, still looking good in the tank. Can't wait to see if it grows. If it does good I'll order more.
They came out of the bag in perfect condition, no rot or anyhting. NOTE, you dont get a supper large amount so you might want to buy like 4-8 of these if you want to fully carpet a 10 gallon tank. I bought 2, and it worked well for just a small part of the front of my tank.
Came in green and healthy along with the rest of the plants in my order!
