Propagating Marsilea hirsuta 'Tiny'

How to propagate the dwarf four-leaf-clover carpet Marsilea hirsuta 'Tiny' by its creeping rhizome and runners, dividing and replanting small pieces over a wide area.

Overview

Marsilea hirsuta 'Tiny' is a dwarf selection of the aquatic fern Marsilea hirsuta, a foreground plant that carpets the aquarium like a field of clovers. The parent species is found in flood plains and swamps in Australia, and the rounded leaves are bright green and may develop one to four lobes depending on the environment.

As a carpet fern it spreads horizontally across the substrate by runners rather than by tall stems, staying low and dense. This makes it a forgiving, low-tech foreground that you propagate by dividing and replanting rather than by cutting tops.

Propagation Method

Propagation is vegetative through the creeping rhizome and runners. Carpet plants like Marsilea use runners to spread across the soil surface and spread fairly quickly by runners when conditions are good.

• Runners / creeping rhizome: horizontal shoots root as they go and send up new clover leaves, knitting the carpet together.
• Division: an established mat or clump is separated into individual plantlets or smaller clumps that are replanted across the area.

Step-by-Step

1. Lift or trim a portion of an established mat, or take a tissue-culture pot and rinse off any gel media.
2. Separate the clump into individual plantlets or small clumps, each with some rhizome and roots.
3. Plant the small pieces spread out over a large area so they can grow toward each other and close the gaps faster.
4. Push each piece gently into nutrient-rich substrate so the rhizome stays in contact with the soil.
5. Keep good light at substrate level and let the runners fill in the carpet over the following weeks.

Conditions for Healthy Growth

Marsilea is small and grows at substrate level, so it tends to sit furthest from the light; most specimens spread faster and become shorter and denser with more light, and it tolerates a little more shade than Monte Carlo. A nutrient-rich substrate supports the carpet, and added CO2 is not required for this low-tech plant.

Maintenance

Because it stays short in medium to high lighting, minimal trimming is needed; mostly you trim runners that stray beyond the intended footprint and replant those pieces elsewhere to expand the carpet. Keep the substrate fertile and the light consistent to keep the mat dense.

Common Challenges