Want a grass carpet with a clean start? Micro Sword spreads by runner into a fine, low meadow of narrow blades — the closest thing in the hobby to a lawn. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format, so it arrives free of snails, algae and pesticide residue.
What You’ll Receive
Select the quantity that best fits your aquascape needs using the variant options above.
-
1 Bag Option:
You will receive one (1) 4-inch Vitro Culture® bag, yielding approximately 3–4 healthy clump plants of Lilaeopsis brasiliensis. -
5 Bags Option:
You will receive five (5) individual 4-inch Vitro Culture® bags, each yielding approximately 3–4 healthy clump plants.
Each bag is grown in sterile Vitro Culture® conditions and is free from algae, snails, and pests. Plantlets are ready to rinse, divide, and plant directly into nutrient-rich substrate.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Micro Sword, also known as Brazilian Micro Sword
- Scientific name — Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
- Origin — South America
- Placement — Foreground
- Mature height — 1–3 in
- Growth rate — Medium
Care
- Difficulty — Intermediate
- Light — Medium to high. Light reaching the substrate is what makes it carpet
- CO₂ — Recommended, not required. It carpets faster and denser with it
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Required. Fine, nutrient-rich substrate — root feeder
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Substrate runners
Grower’s Notes
- Divide the cup into many small clumps. Plant them an inch apart and let the runners close the gaps. Planted as one mass it takes months longer, because runners only travel into open substrate.
- Root tabs decide the outcome. In inert gravel Micro Sword survives but never thickens — the most common reason a carpet stalls.
- Use fine substrate. Its roots are short and delicate and cannot grip coarse gravel, so clumps float free before they anchor.
- Rinse the gel off completely before planting or it clouds water and feeds algae in the first weeks.
- It is slow to start. Expect little visible progress for the first month while it roots, then steady spread.
Despite the name, this is not a sword plant. Lilaeopsis is unrelated to Echinodorus (Amazon Swords) or Helanthium (chain swords) — it stays small and carpets, where true swords grow large or spread as rosettes.
Prefer rooted plants? See standard Micro Sword, or the finer-bladed Micro Sword Narrow Leaf.
Notes
- Images show mature, submerged growth for reference. Plants are shipped in emersed, lab-grown form and may appear smaller or different upon arrival. Growth form and appearance will adapt after proper acclimation.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
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.
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.
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.
Customers praised these vitro culture plants for arriving healthy and well-packaged, even in extreme heat. Shoppers noted "abundant quantity" with one cup providing "dozens of small plants." Plants adapted well after planting, though some mentioned potential initial melting. Excellent shipping protection and quality.
- The plants came in great condition and I separated them into dozens of small plants.
- This portion was twice as large, plus the plants themselves were thicker and larger.
- All my plants came in healthy, made the trip to Colorado just fine even with the scorching heat!
M
Plants were packaged to the brim and did a great job for me.
A
Nice healthy plants.
Arrived quickly and very well packaged. Healthy and colorful, so far, so good. Hopefully they will do well and thrive in my clawed frog's tank. Happy with purchase
A
All my plants came in healthy, I got 5 different plants and set them up for a 1-gallon ecosystem for shrimp and everything is going well so far! They made the trip to Colorado just fine even with the scorching heat!
D
The plants came in great condition and even though they sat around for a week after they arrived, they still are looking great. I just separated them into dozens of small plants and put them in my new 15 gallon cube to dry start them.
w
Micro Sword Vitro Culture
D
Thank you
J
The micro swords look pretty good - although they appear like they might melt down. Even if they do I know to just wait, they will grow back.
C
Healthy plants
J
Ordered 2 cups from a competitor, and one cup from Aquariumplantsfactory.com. Wish I bought all 3 here. This one portion was shipped well with the cup wrapped in quilted silver foil insulation inside of a box which was inside a padded envelope. This portion was twice as large, plus the plants themselves were thicker and larger than your competitor. Bravo to the ladies and gentlemen of Aquariumplantsfactory.com. I know where my next batch will come from.
j
These cups go along way, APF is by far the best aquarium plant shop I’ve found! Has been planted for about 4 days and they went from curly Q’s to sticking straight up. I’m now excited for my flamingo crypts to come in. Its bad when you make two orders in a week..
K
This is my second purchase. I live in MA. The plants arrived 3 days after I ordered. They were healthy. In fact, these plants looked better than the 2 I bought locally. My batch from last year are still going strong ( java fern, anubis). I will order from here again.
Recommended for You
Frequently Asked Questions
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
!
