Monte Carlo

Micranthemum tweediei

Monte Carlo is one of the most popular plants used to create a lush, bright green 'carpet' across the floor of an aquarium. It produces tiny, round leaves and creeps horizontally along the substrate, eventually forming a dense, grassy lawn that looks spectacular in aquascapes. While considered easier to grow than other carpeting plants like Dwarf Baby Tears, Monte Carlo still strongly benefits from (and often requires) high lighting and injected CO2 to achieve that dense, ground-hugging growth. Without sufficient light, the plant will stretch vertically toward the surface instead of spreading outward. Regular trimming is required to prevent the bottom layers from rotting and detaching from the soil.