Monte Carlo

• Carpeting plant
• Small leaves
• Great for shrimp

Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo' is a carpeting plant which is typically used by aquarists to achieve lush foreground cover. It is a low-growing plant with bright green, rounded leaves. It will creep laterally along the substrate as it grows along and can also be used overhanging on decor or rocks. Monte Carlo does not require much beyond medium to higher lighting and fertilizer to thrive. Once it takes off, it will fill in nicely to form a soft carpet for shrimp and bottom dwellers to enjoy.

• Scientific Name: Micranthemum tweediei 
• Native To: Argentina, South America
• Skill Level: Medium
  
• Placement: Foreground 
• Recommended Light: Medium to High Light 20-50+ PAR (click to see our PAR chart)
  
• CO₂ Requirement: Not required but preferred
• Preferred Fertilizer: Easy Root Tabs and Easy Green liquid fertilizer
• Propagation: Spreads via runners across the ground

***Being a natural product, sizes can vary from what is shown.***

How to Plant Monte Carlo in Aquarium

1. Remove the potted plant from plastic basket, and split the rock wool in half.
2. Wash off any remaining debris, and gently separate the plant into multiple small clumps, leaving a small portion of rock wool on each clump to serve as an anchor.
3. Use planting tweezers or your fingers to push the rock wool and roots of each plant clump into the substrate until they are completely buried. (Because the roots are weak, you can also plant monte carlo in the pot, such that the pot is entirely buried in the ground. Then it can creep laterally and grow upwards once it is done converting to its underwater growth form.)
4. If the plant keeps popping out of the ground, try inserting the plant at an angle or wrap a plant weight at the bottom of the plant to keep it anchored.
5. Make sure to add lots of root tabs if you’re using inert substrate or if your nutrient-rich substrate is depleted.

How to Grow Monte Carlo Aquarium Plant

— Monte carlo plant care requires medium skill level, so start by using medium to high lighting between 20-50+ PAR. 
— Why is my monte carlo plant melting?  Plants are grown out of the water at the farm. Once the plants arrive to us, we begin the process of converting them to their underwater form. The plant you receive may be half-converted and still need time to adjust to life under water. To help the plant recover faster and grow new leaves that are accustomed to your water parameters, leave the roots planted in the ground and make sure to provide nutrient-rich planted tank substrate or Easy Root Tabs. 
— Why is my monte carlo turning yellow? If your plant is getting enough light, it may be a nutrient deficiency. If the leaves are yellowing or turning pale after a couple of months, please add more root tabs.
— How to trim monte carlo: If the plant has dying or melting leaves, cut them off at the base of the leaf. If you wish to prune your monte carlo carpet to look like a field of grass, use curved scissors to cut all of the leaves to an even height, much like mowing a lawn.

How to Propagate Monte Carlo Plant

Once it becomes well-established, monte carlo self-propagates by sending out runners all across the substrate, which can eventually provide ground cover for an entire aquarium. The new baby plants can be trimmed off and replanted or left to grow out naturally.