Micra (Micranthemum micranthemoides)

🌿 Micranthemum micranthemoides

Micranthemum micranthemoides, commonly known as Pearl Weed or Micra, is a classic aquatic stem plant celebrated for its tiny, bright lime-green leaves and dense growth habit. Extremely versatile and adaptable, it can be pruned into a tight foreground carpet, shaped into midground bushes, or allowed to grow tall as a lush background accent.

🌱 Growth & Appearance

This species produces slender stems lined with small, oval leaves arranged in whorls of three or four. Its vibrant green foliage naturally creates a fresh, energetic contrast in any aquascape.

Depending on lighting levels and pruning techniques, Pearl Weed can adjust its growth form. Under intense light and regular trimming, stems tend to creep horizontally across the substrate, whereas undisturbed stems will grow vertically toward the surface to form thick thickets.

💡 Lighting & CO₂

Micranthemum micranthemoides adapts well to a wide range of lighting conditions. Moderate light supports steady vertical stem growth, while high lighting encourages creeping runner habits and produces ultra-compact leaf spacing.

CO₂ injection is optional, making it one of the most forgiving fine-leaved plants for low-tech setups. However, providing CO₂ alongside regular liquid fertilizer dosing drastically boosts growth rate, leaf density, and overall carpet lushness.

🪴 Planting & Maintenance

Plant small bunches of stems into a nutrient-rich substrate using fine tweezers, leaving short gaps between clusters. As the plant establishes, simply trim the top foliage to your desired shape and height.

It handles heavy pruning exceptionally well. Cut stems quickly sprout multiple new side shoots, allowing you to sculpt dense, hedges over time. Stem cuttings can also be easily replanted into the soil to propagate new groups.

🌿 Best Use

Micranthemum micranthemoides is an incredibly versatile plant suited for the foreground, midground, or background in nature aquascapes, Dutch-style layouts, and nano aquariums.

Its fine leaf size makes it an ideal choice for adding scale to smaller tanks or serving as a vibrant green backdrop behind hardscapes and darker focal plants.

✨ Plant Profile

Difficulty: Easy

Growth Rate: Fast

Lighting: Medium to High

CO₂: Optional

Temperature: 18–28°C

Placement: Foreground to Background

Growth Type: Stem Plant

Propagation: Stem Cuttings