Microcarpaea Minima Vitro Culture

A carpet at nano scale. Microcarpaea minima creeps across the foreground with leaves only a few millimeters across, forming a fine meadow rather than the coarse mat most carpet plants give. That small leaf size is what makes it useful — in a nano tank or an Iwagumi it sets a scale that makes rocks and driftwood look larger. Still rare in the hobby. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® (tissue culture) format.

What You'll Receive

• One (1) Vitro Culture® 4-inch bag of Microcarpaea minima Merrill
• Yield: Approximately 3–4 small clump plantlets, ready to plant into your aquascape

Plant Profile

• Common name — Microcarpaea Minima
• Scientific name — Microcarpaea minima Merrill
• Also known as — Microcarpaea Mini
• Origin — Asia
• Placement — Foreground carpet
• Shipped size — 4-inch bag, approx. 3–4 small clumps
• Mature height — 0.5–1 in
• Suits — 5 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Slow to medium

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high. Strong light is what keeps it flat and compact
• CO₂ — Not required. It carpets faster and denser with it
• Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Excellent emersed in paludariums and Wabi-Kusa
• Propagation — Cuttings — divide and replant creeping stems

Grower's Notes

• Divide the cup into many small plugs. Separate the clumps into pieces of a few stems each and plant them an inch apart. It spreads sideways to meet itself far faster than one clump grows outward, and planting the whole culture as a lump wastes most of it.
• Light must reach the substrate. This decides whether it carpets flat or stretches upward reaching for light. Shaded by taller plants it grows leggy and thin.
• It is slow to establish and then steady. Expect a month of little visible progress before it starts closing the gaps.
• Feed at the roots. On inert gravel it survives but barely creeps; over aquasoil or root tabs it carpets properly.
• The tiny leaf size gives shrimp and microfauna a grazing surface and cover, and it reads convincingly as a lawn at a scale where larger carpets look coarse.

Notes

• Pictures shown are for reference only. Actual plant size, shape, and color may vary depending on growing conditions. This Vitro Culture® bag is sealed for freshness — please follow proper acclimation procedures upon opening.
• 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.