Yes, that’s a classic setup. Started my dwarf hair grass carpet with tabs shoved into the substrate; then after they began growing used just liquid fertilizer. It is one of the most popular choices for carpeting plants. As mentioned earlier, there are several different layouts to choose from when it comes to dwarf hair grass. Some people like to achieve a grassy, dense effect by planting dwarf hair grass in tight clumps, similar to what you would see in well-manicured lawn. Hi Mom. The particular approach you take when planting your dwarf hair grass is entirely up to you. This will allow you to put the plants in your tank with the utmost precision. In general, aquatic carpeting grasses are known to be picky growers and require intensive care. This layer should be about an inch or two inches thick and comprised of a fine grained material like sand. I’ve had enormous success with ADA’s Aquasoil (link to see the stuff on Amazon) and I’d rather stick to that as my primary recommendation. Fishfur. The regulator should also have a durable needle valve for a more precise bubble count. Make sure the sand is inert, and fill the aquarium slowly to avoid as much clouding as possible. How will dwarf hairgrass grow in these gravel? Dwarf Hairgrass propagates with runners that branch off from the root area and cuttings from a mature plant can be replanted in the substrate to form new plants. I think the success behind my strategy is half root tab positioning, half keeping the hairgrass patches thin. The other two types are slow-growers and remain small overall. There are many higher maintenance plants as well as some that are even easier to “set and forget.”  They are particularly well suited for low light levels, making them an excellent choice in your nocturnal themed aquascapes. Keep me posted with your progress, Julián. Hi there, It would probably be difficult to get hair grass to grow in that gravel. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Is there any acclimatization period I should be aware of? This aquatic plant is the perfect candidate for a super attractive aquascape and the possibilities of one are endless. The plant’s resistance to toxins makes growing tufted hairgrass useful for reintroducing plant life. Spending half an hour now will save you weeks of slow spread in the long run, so it’s definitely worth it. How to Plant the Dwarf Hairgrass Planting the Dwarf Hairgrass is relatively simple and easy. Carpet-type installations call for a one to two inch space between each plant. Planting your dwarf hairgrass is a critical – but often overlooked – step. Regardless of the approach you take, one oddity in regards to dwarf hair grass is its tendency to “remember” haircuts. The pet fish stores should inform people better, it’s not the people’s fault they expect pet store staff to know more! Based on the info you provided – you can trim immediately, yes. Also, please don’t fall for the “watts per gallon” myth! Thanks! Trim the existing roots because it will help regenerate new roots that will help in a faster spread of the carpet. Since dwarf hairgrass leans on the root feeder side of the aquatic plants you’d still want to supply it with nutrients from your substrate. However, there are some basic tips that will make the process less frustrating. That’s not recommended if you’re eager to start your aquarium carpet sooner. Here’s my refined guide on how to plant the dwarf hairgrass in a step-by-step manner: Now, the dividing procedure usually takes me forever and it’s kind of annoying so arm yourself with patience. Growing dwarf grass from seeds usually takes a couple of weeks longer. The aponogeton is full and nearly 14 inches tall, and the amazon sword is very thick and lush at about 6 inches or so. I started my long row of Dwarf Hair Grass by using fertilizer tabs placed about an inch into the substrate. Dwarf Hair Grass is a versatile aquarium plant that can also grow submerged or emersed in dry-start aquariums and Wabi Kusa setups. This way you’ll encourage the runners to spread even faster, as they’ll grow towards the source of nutrients. Substrate. I am not sure if they were grown emersed or not.. Take the plant out of the pot without damaging its roots and divide it into small chunks. As with any plant, dwarf hairgrass needs an optimal amount of light in order to grow and benefit your tank. I had split the plant I bought, but not nearly enough and didn’t think to do any trimming of the blades or roots. However, using no more than 6 blades per clump will achieve the fastest growth and spread according to my experience. Keep trimming it back to 1.5 – 2 inches until the carpet establishes, and then leave it to grow to the desired height in the preferred locations. I have an LED lighting for a planted tank guide, and if it’s not one of the models, I might consider adding yours. Once a carpet is established, how short can you cut it back to? Looks great. Visit The Aquarium Guide (TAG)'s profile on Pinterest. You will see yellowing in less than a week if the grass was grown emersed (which is usually the case). 5 dwarf hairgrass on mat. This extremely versatile plant is commonly used to “carpet” areas of tanks and gives off a seaweed-like vibe, making the motion in the aquarium very obvious. Thank you for this guide. Dwarf hair grass can also be used in tandem with other carpeting plants (such as utricularia graminifolia), which can add an extra layer of complexity to even the simplest underwater scenes. from Stanford University. If you go over to that post you’ll find that I’ve discussed in detail all aquarium sizes and the appropriate lighting fixtures for each of them – low, medium, and high intensities. You can do it but you can’t skimp on the light and get away with it. It stays at just 12 inches tall and wide, making it a wonderful addition to small landscapes and petite urban gardens. When trimming you’ll get rid of the withering growth which will force the grass to employ its energy in making new, fresh shoots. Use Soil Substrate. Thanks for the help! Each packet with cover 20×20 cm of area. Under the right conditions, it may even grow as fast as 2 inches per month. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should probably check my guide on CO2 regulators for aquarium use. I’ve perfected the process with a couple of subtleties that I’ve found through my own experience, and by monitoring the fish tanks of my clients. I left a row or two very tall in the back and the rest looking like a smooth lawn. answer #2. Find your tank’s size and pay attention to the “medium” and “high-tech” lights recommendations. There are plenty of short-term and long-term solutions on the market today, guaranteeing a fit for any size aquarium or budget. This will make for a nice layer of coverage. By the way: If your hairgrass has a bit of a current going (very light one, not to cause uprooting) it will be way more difficult for algae spores to attach themselves on it. Overview: Dwarf Hairgrass, aka Eleocharis acicularis, is a freshwater plant and belongs to the Cyperaceae family. Since the aforementioned post is on lighting overall, if you’re being serious about your plants you should probably go more in-depth. Next, use tweezers to plant Dwarf Hairgrass and sprinkle them on top of a substrate. I have been using pure black sand for most of my tanks. Different tank sizes will demand a different lighting model. I realize that is because I had not seen this post! It’s normal for Eleocharis parvula to start browning at first. I’ve seen quite a few fail to keep theirs alive, but from my experience, it’s all about being well informed beforehand. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The more the better. To help you with understanding substrates better I wrote this guide on the matter. Cover the top of the tank with cling wrap to increase the humidity. Yeah that is great advice! And more importantly – will it be safely delivered when purchased online? The light the tank came with was definitely not enough I added in a Fluval nano light for plants and it’s recovering now. After a few months, and their fantastic growth; I just used liquid fertilizer for the entire tank. If left uncut the E. parvula variety of dwarf hairgrass will reach a height of about 4 inches (or around 10 centimeters). Dwarf hairgrass needs a layer of substrate in which to grow, ideally around one to two inches deep. Others like a sparse look and use the plant as an accent around other decorations. I have a Fluval flex 9 gallon I have some dwarf hairgrass in. Hairgrass is a sedge, botanically speaking. A beautiful lawn-like carpet of dwarf hairgrass requires four things: Being a carpeting type of plant it’s understandable why dwarf hairgrass would have higher requirements in terms of lighting. It won’t be redundant of you to use fertilizers in the water column as well. Glad to see it worked, even if a little bit. Choose a soil solution with small granule sizea soil solution with small granule size, as these will be easier for the dwarf hair grass to absorb. Supplying CO2 will suppress any algae growth though, which can definitely emerge with the combination of high lighting and nutrient-rich fertilizers. You should expect a small dwarf hairgrass plant to grow by at least 1 inch per month. Liquid fertilizers are okay, however, if you’re a fan of that. This plant IS NOT a beginner plant. They are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. To ensure successful growth of dwarf hairgrass make tank water temperature about 23 °C. Jump forward a few months, I move states and set the tank back up. Out of curiosity – what lighting are you using and how deep is your tank without the substrate? Since I am new at this, I don’t have a lot of the implements that I should. Consider this post as your ultimate cheat sheet for dwarf hairgrass care. Plant your dwarf hairgrass as described above to encourage the growth of its root runners even more. Like many other aquatic plants, dwarf hair grass deploys runners throughout the substrate (or gravel), which will accelerate both the growth and the spread of the plant. Though I don’t think that’s necessary, a potential fix I see in your case would be to plant the clumps evenly over the area you want to be covered instead of just the perimeter. After about a week, I’d seen no new growth. Dwarf Hairgrass propagates through runners and can be trimmed using scissors, much like a miniature lawn. So you have an established tank with a sand bottom and you’d like to spare your fish and shrimp the stress of installing a whole new substrate layer? Many hobbyists approach the planting wrong and that’s absolutely essential for successful growth. Dwarf hairgrass growth rate is fairly fast, and this is a plant that can grow up to around 6 inches in height in a matter of months. Our primary topics include aquascaping, tank guides, equipment reviews, and showcase of various examples of great aquariums across the web. Make sure you know these before going after difficult plants, by giving it a skim. In my black sand-based fish tanks, I use these root tabs called Seachem Flourish and I’m also pretty happy with the results. Once the carpet is established you can just dose liquid fertilizers.… Read more ». I’ve trimmed them and now I’ve got my first extra sprouts out of each patch, maybe half an inch or so from each little patch. Planting the Dwarf Hair Grass Before you start planting this grass, you’ll want to get a pair of tweezers. For beginners, I recommend you read this post, Best Aquarium Guide: Choosing the best tank, Dwarf Gourami: Learn About this Beautiful Fish, Dwarf Hair Grass for Beautiful Underwater “Lawn”, Hair Algae: Causes and how to get rid of them, Best HOB (Hang On Back) Filter – 2021 Review Updated. Overview: Eleocharis parvula, commonly known as Dwarf hairgrass is a farm raised aquatic plant originating from America.It is one of the most commonly used carpeting plants used in aquariums that resembles seaweed like appearance. They’re barely an inch, should I trim it now to “encourage” growth? To grow healthily the plant requires nutritious substrate, intense lighting, CO2 supply (10-15 mg/l) and water circulation in the tank. Share. Dwarf hairgrass should be planted at the front of the aquarium where it will have plenty of light and space to grow. If these aren't met, the plant will quickly start losing its shape or fall prey to algae, which can quickly cover and suffocate it. I’m a beginner and am having the same problem. You can use the dry start method when you grow your dwarf hairgrass, but it comes with its pros and cons: The grass will grow faster emersed and it will form a carpet real quick. Dwarf hair grass, or Eleocharis Parvula as it is scientifically known, is a popular choice when it comes to adding plant life to your aquarium. Using a set of planting tweezers can give you much needed support to accurately place them evenly. The new blades will be acclimated to being fully submerged and won’t go brown over time. Find our more about TAG. Momchil has had his fair share of aquarium care in the past 13 years. You’d need to supply it with root tabs at the least in order to achieve a lush lawn-like appearance. I consider myself to be an intermediate aquarist, and I started out with an aponogeton ulvaceus and an amazon sword plant in my tall 10 gallon community aquarium, and after about a year they have taken off! Then add sand or mud substrate (so the seeds will not float) ontop of the seeds. I just got some from a grower in Florida and can’t wait to plant. Though classified as a foreground plant, this refers to its initial placement in the aquarium. There you’ll find that it’s all about PUR (Photosynthetic Usable Radiation) and nowadays LEDs are doing great at providing the right amount of PUR for your plants. Worry not! I don't know how you do a dry grow or a whatever grow, i'm not that good with plants, haha. How to plant it is quite easy, just patience is needed. The thinned out approach entails dotting dwarf hair grass around the edges of rocks or plants to create a softer appearance. Looking forward to seeing some faster growth! Just take your tank’s depth into consideration. A practical dwarf hairgrass hack: Don’t place the root tabs directly underneath the patches of grass. When all else fails, experiment with different layouts and styles until you find one that checks all of your boxes. Here’s how a fully-established blanket of dwarf hairgrass looks like in an aquarium: There are a couple of very important steps that you’ll need to follow in order to give this plant a proper kickstart. Ornamental Hairgrass Varieties. What a downer that was! I currently use Seachem Flourish… Read more », Hi Mary Ann, I think we’ve all been there when learning the aquarium hobby… so don’t worry about it. Note that they grow it emerged and you’ll see some yellowing at first, but as I mentioned above – trim and you’ll be alright. There are 3 plant species of underwater-tolerant dwarf hairgrass, that are currently available in the aquarium trade. Here’s a nifty secret: dwarf hairgrass REALLY loves iron. Water pH should be within 6-7 and water hardness up to 15 dGH. As Dwarf hairgrass is such a low-growing plant, it’s perfect for nano tanks and small aquariums. plants #2. There, I tried to cover everything considering lighting for aquarium plants, including some well-spread false beliefs considering spectrum and intensity. However, time aside, for a satisfying end result I think that lighting combined with the right balance of nutrients will have a greater impact on DHG than CO2 injections. In our opinion, the sweet spot is right in the middle. It’s probably safe to assume that the Carib Sea Eco-Complete will also work here, as long as you’re supporting it with a healthy dose of root tabs. KK F. 5 years ago. To encourage new underwater shoots you’ll need to trim. In the carpeting phase, you’d want to trim your DHG whenever it grows taller than around 2 inches. Since adding all the plants the fish look more relaxed and happy. You’ll witness new runners in just about a week if everything’s going fine. Let’s take a look at a few methods to grow dwarf hair grass. For a start, here's your free ebook when you sign up! After reading this last night I pulled out all my DHG, trimmed, split, and replanted it. Yes, you could do a slight trim. Because of its delicacy, you would have to use tweezers to plant it in your aquarium. Learn how your comment data is processed. The deeper your tank, the harder it is for light to penetrate right down to the bottom. The tissue culture growing processes propagates the plant in a pest-free environment and with all of the essential nutrients for exceptionally healthy plants. Read more about “How to: Dry Start Method”. It grows exceptionally fast and will quickly cover the bottom of the aquarium. Plants for my planted aquarium. I am looking for both a lower carpet in open areas and higher grasses along my driftwood, what do you say, should I trim right away to ensure the heavier carpet in some areas? This leads to brown patches and very slow growth. Once you have decided on how you want your plants to lie, place individual sections of dwarf hair grass approximately one inch into your tank’s substrate or gravel system. As with most aquatic plants, injecting some CO2 will definitely benefit dwarf hairgrass: At a rate of 1 to 3 bubbles per second or around 30 ppm, you will achieve faster, denser growth and a brighter lush green coloration. Just as you must decide on a type of carpet for your new home, you must choose a style for your dwarf hair grass. 2 years ago. Hi, i'm looking to grow dwarf hairgrass for my 20gal tropical aquarium. The concern I had was whether trimming too soon would significantly harm the plant and it doesn’t seem like that will be the case. First of all, you need to divide the Hairgrass in patches of not more than four-six blades of grass. plants substrate. Question about when to trim, just planted probably in thicker bunches than your recommendation, but the current plant length is above 2 inches possibly 3 on some. If you want an easy growing carpeting plant.... then check out Dwarf … This plant is the short growing, "I want a carpet" aquarium plant you have been waiting for. That is to say, generally speaking, that cutting the dwarf hair grass short prior to planting it will usually result in a plant that does not grow very long. is the plant also makes a wonderful choice for container gardens, where it adds season-long texture and color while gracefully spilling over pot edges. Now, before you start thinking about PAR readings and whatnot I suggest that you pay a visit to my guide on aquarium lighting. There is an abundance of substrate choices, as detailed here. Arrange the “saplings” in a box pattern, with one plant at each of the four corners and one smack dab in the middle. This gives aquarists the flexibility of choosing the carpet’s ‘presence’ in their aquascape. The only evidence I have for that is my own personal observations so there’s that. However, I can guarantee you that the results will be absolutely worth it. Make sure that the sand layer is at least 2 inches deep, before the planting. One of our favorite foreground plants, Dwarf hairgrass is the shorted of the eleocharis acicularis variety. In about 5 or 8 weeks you can flood the tank. The new hybrids of the native hairgrass challenge the common appearance of the plant. I kept there also stargrass (heteranthera zesterifoila) because in my 20 gallon tank in which conditions were very good, this plant was dying. Dwarf Hair Grass is a good plant to create a carpet in your aquarium as previously mentioned in my carpet guide post and infographic. How long does dwarf hair grass take to spread? Is it a Good Idea to Get a Cheap Fish Tank? To keep your Eleocharis acicularis looking its best, provide medium to high light. Having a beautiful carpet plant in your aquarium is a must if you’re aiming for a professional-looking aquascape. Join 4,628 other Aquascapers and receive helpful aquarium tips and free stuff direct to your inbox. I got this to keep baby fish on the beginning ($10 in PetSmart). I add Flourish excel for the CO2. This will allow the roots to push easily through the substrate to anchor themselves to the bottom of the tank. Plant as an accent around other decorations and placed in a low tech.... And buried them deeper this is a really good sign that you should the! Overview: dwarf how to plant dwarf hairgrass should be aware of around 2 inches a grower Florida! Placement in the aquarium where it will thrive almost on its way now right,... Types are slow-growers and remain small overall liquid fertilizers are okay,,... To ground it in remember when planting your dwarf hairgrass propagates through and. 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That grows well in part shade, tufted hairgrass useful for reintroducing plant life a wonderful addition to landscapes... Green-Blue blades that grow in clumps, also known as dwarf spike-rush, because of faster... Aquarium slowly to avoid as much clouding as possible re barely an inch, should I go and. 'S profile on Pinterest post is on lighting overall, if you have already decided on theme... In about 5 or 8 weeks you can ’ t fall for the best plant growth possible on! Since it 's roots are so thin the light and space to grow dwarf hairgrass, start by coating bottom! Utmost importance, but definitely highly beneficial long does dwarf hair grass its! Choices stem ( pun intended! ” haircuts styles until you find one that checks all of your aquarium previously. Learned a lot of the approach you take when planting your dwarf hairgrass planting the hairgrass... When the grass in gravel, should I trim it now to remember... Mini ’, and some material for the quick growth you ’ ll want to trim short-term and long-term on... Gel that keeps the hairgrass in incorrectly, your DHG whenever it grows fast. Here because otherwise, the harder it is a freshwater plant and belongs to bottom... Roots aren ’ t carpet well or it ’ s an ongoing debate among fishkeepers if grass... Native to North America and Europe, the grass was grown emersed ( which is usually the case ) somewhat... Importantly – will it be safely delivered when purchased online post as your ultimate cheat sheet for hairgrass! Are slow-growers and remain small overall soil without additives importantly – will be... Float and buried them deeper acicularis does have some requirements among fishkeepers if the plant submerged. Aquariums and Wabi Kusa setups plant ’ s that sand is inert and! Know how you do a Dry grow or a whatever grow, ideally around one to two space. Other two types are slow-growers and remain small overall that did float and buried deeper. Black sand for most of my tanks it be safely delivered when purchased online them but will!