Eleocharis montevidensis – ADA Tissue Culture

Eleocharis montevidensis, also known as Giant Hairgrass, is a striking tall grass-like aquatic plant that can add vertical height and a sense of depth to your aquarium. Known for its long, thin, and arching blades that grow up to 50 cm (20 inches), this plant is perfect for background areas where it creates a beautiful, flowing wall of greenery.

This plant is packaged in a premium ADA Tissue Culture, ensuring it arrives in a pristine, pest-free state. ADA Tissue Culture plants are grown in sterile conditions, making them free of snails, algae, and diseases. Tissue culture plants are well-suited for aquascapers looking for healthy and vibrant plants that will quickly adapt to their aquarium environments.

Detailed Care Guide:

Tank Requirements:

• Lighting: Medium to high lighting is recommended to encourage healthy growth and a dense appearance. Higher lighting will result in faster growth and denser clusters of Eleocharis montevidensis.
• Substrate: A nutrient-rich substrate is highly beneficial for Eleocharis montevidensis since it absorbs nutrients through its roots. Substrates like ADA Aqua Soil or similar products that provide essential nutrients will help support robust growth.
• CO2: CO2 injection is beneficial for optimal growth. Though this plant can survive in low-tech tanks without CO2, its growth will be significantly slower, and the plant may appear less dense.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 65°F – 82°F (18°C – 28°C)
  • pH: 6.0 – 7.5
  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water (2 – 12 dGH)

Tissue Culture Preparation and Planting:

1. Opening the Tissue Culture: Open the ADA Tissue Culture container carefully. Inside the container, Eleocharis montevidensis will be surrounded by a nutrient-rich gel medium designed to promote sterile growth.
2. Rinsing the Plant: Remove the plant gently from the container and rinse it thoroughly under lukewarm water to remove the gel. It’s important to get rid of all the gel, as it can lead to water quality issues if introduced into your tank.
3. Dividing the Plant: After rinsing, divide the plant into smaller portions. Each portion can consist of a few blades of grass-like foliage. Dividing the plant encourages faster growth and ensures it covers more ground when planted.
4. Planting: Using aquascaping tweezers, plant the divided portions of Eleocharis montevidensis into the substrate, spacing them slightly apart to allow room for growth. The plant is ideal for background areas due to its tall height but can also be placed strategically in the midground for larger tanks to create depth and contrast with shorter plants.
5. Initial Care: For the first few days, reduce the light intensity slightly to prevent algae growth and allow the plant to establish. Once new growth is visible, you can gradually increase the light intensity.

Maintenance:

• Trimming: Although Eleocharis montevidensis grows quite tall, regular trimming may be required to maintain the desired height in smaller aquariums. Trimming encourages denser growth and helps to keep the plant healthy.
• Fertilization: Regular fertilization is important for maintaining the health of Eleocharis montevidensis. Liquid fertilizers that provide essential macro and micronutrients will help keep the plant lush. Using root tabs in a nutrient-poor substrate is recommended to provide the plant with additional nutrients.
• Water Changes: Perform regular water changes (20-30% weekly) to maintain water quality and reduce the risk of algae growth. Consistent water changes will also help replenish essential nutrients in the tank, benefiting the plant’s overall growth.

Growth and Propagation:

Eleocharis montevidensis propagates by sending out runners (stolons) that grow horizontally under the substrate. These runners will eventually develop into new shoots and blades, forming dense clusters over time. In a well-maintained aquarium, this plant will spread naturally. You can also manually propagate it by cutting sections of the runners and replanting them in new areas of the tank.

Ideal Tank Setup:

Eleocharis montevidensis is an ideal plant for larger tanks, where its tall growth can be used to create a soft, swaying backdrop. It works wonderfully in nature-style aquascapes or biotope setups, where it mimics natural grass-like environments. Pairing this plant with carpeting plants like Eleocharis parvula or Monte Carlo can create a lush, layered look in the tank. This plant also thrives in high-tech aquascapes with ample CO2 and high lighting, but it can adapt to low-tech setups with slower growth.

Summary:

Eleocharis montevidensis, or Giant Hairgrass, is a tall and graceful aquatic plant that adds vertical structure and movement to aquascapes. Its long, flowing blades create a beautiful backdrop in larger aquariums, and it can easily be integrated into nature-style aquascapes. Provided in an ADA Tissue Culture, this plant is guaranteed to be pest- and disease-free, making it an excellent addition to any planted tank.

With the right conditions of medium to high light, CO2 injection, and a nutrient-rich substrate, Eleocharis montevidensis will flourish, creating a dynamic and stunning effect in your aquarium.

This plant is perfect for aquascapers looking to bring a natural, grassy element to their aquariums. Whether you’re setting up a high-tech tank or a slower-growth low-tech system, this elegant plant will provide lasting beauty to your aquascape.