Eleocharis Parvula care guide
Eleocharis Parvula (Eleocharis parvula) — medium light, 18-28 °C, pH 6-7.5, CO2 recommended.
Overview
Eleocharis Parvula (Eleocharis parvula) is a fine needle-leaved plant of the family Cyperaceae, grown as an aquarium plant. A shorter version of dwarf hairgrass that stays compact at only a few centimeters tall, creating a fine lawn-like carpet. Spreads well via runners and is slightly easier to maintain than Eleocharis acicularis in high-tech setups.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyperaceae
- Genus: Eleocharis
- Scientific name: Eleocharis parvula
- Common synonyms: Mini Hairgrass, Dwarf Spikerush
Habitat
Eleocharis parvula originates from cosmopolitan wetlands, where it grows in freshwater marshes, ditches and slow-moving streams, frequently emersed on seasonally flooded ground.
Growth requirements
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: recommended
- Temperature: 18-28 °C (64-82 °F)
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil
- Maximum height: 6 cm
- Growth rate: medium
- Nutrient demand: medium
- Recommended placement: foreground carpet
- Typical trim interval: 14 days
Placement
In aquascapes this plant forms a low foreground carpet.
Propagation
Propagation is by runners that throw daughter plants on the substrate; daughter plants are separated once they have formed several leaves and visible roots.
Common issues
Pale or stunted new growth usually signals a nutrient or iron deficiency, while algae on older leaves often follows light that exceeds the available nutrients or CO2; correcting fertilisation and trimming affected parts resolves most cases.