MARSILEA HIRSUTA P051

Marsilea hirsuta, originally from Australia is well suited to create a low and dense, green cover in the foreground of the aquarium. This plant is only a few centimetres tall, it grows slowly and it is easy to keep, also for the beginner since Marsilea hirsuta thrives even at very low light. For the expert, the many green colours and the dense carpet are presenting the tank in a beautiful way adding a sense of depth in the aquarium. Image shows emersed and submersed growth.

This plant is a great alternative to HC or Glosso as it only required low lighting.  It is perfect for a Shrimp Aquarium, as the leaves provide a flat surface for them to stand on and provides a great contrast. Higher lighting and carbon dioxide injection improve growth rate and promote more compact growth. In the lower light situations it produces bigger leaves with a single lobe, very different from the emerse plant. No substrate or water special conditions are required (temperature between 18°C - 28°C or 64°F - 82°F, pH 5 - 7.5 and GH between 1 - 20 dH). 

How to Plant & Maintenance:

Marsilea hirsuta is planted by taking one to two-inch sections of rhizome and planting them in the substrate at regular intervals. 

Maintenance involves thinning out the mat of plants as they become too thick. This can be accomplished by carefully pulling up groups of runners and trimming. 
Marsilea hirsuta can also grow emersed, bit it demands a very moist soil. Below is a picture of Marsilea grown emersed.