Shaping baby tears

wesleydnunder · 05-01-2008, 01:44 PM

My recent addition of baby tears (thanks TTA!) has begun to take hold and grow. I'd like to shape it into small patches similar to the rounded hedges you see in some gardens. I'd like to hear from those of you who've experience with this plant and can steer me the right direction in trimming and shaping it. Thanks a bunch in advance!

Mark

TwoTankAmin · 05-01-2008, 05:42 PM

The stuff grow like a weed for me. I hack and prune it mercilessly but eventually it overtakes me and the tank until it literally lifts out of the substrate like some massive floating island.

I really do not think you can over prune it unless you cut it all the way down to the substrate, and even then I would not bet it wont recover.

sarcare · 05-02-2008, 08:06 AM

The trick I've found for babies tears is that it grows different under different lighting--if it is really strong it will creep across the substrate, with lower light it will grow upright, if the light is too indirect or not strong enough it will grow weedy with longer stems. It is possible to just prune it into shapes, but it would take pretty constant trimming to get it to stay in that shape--the stuff grows like crazy, and will sneak under and through and around to get places--I pulled out little bits that tried to grow under rock.

DaisyTattoo · 05-02-2008, 12:42 PM

Will it grow in very low light?

TwoTankAmin · 05-02-2008, 01:21 PM

There are two different plants which routinely get called baby tears. One is Hemianthus micranthemoides (formerly Micranthemum micranthemoides) and the other is Micranthemum umbrosum. The are very similar looking. However, the first will do OK in moderate to high light levels while the second really needs high light and co2.

Both are listed on the tropica site.

wesleydnunder · 05-02-2008, 02:09 PM

Thanks TTA and Sara. It's in my high light/co2/fert tank, and has begun to really grow. I'll experiment.

Mark

05-01-2008, 01:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,275	Shaping baby tears My recent addition of baby tears (thanks TTA!) has begun to take hold and grow. I'd like to shape it into small patches similar to the rounded hedges you see in some gardens. I'd like to hear from those of you who've experience with this plant and can steer me the right direction in trimming and shaping it. Thanks a bunch in advance! Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

05-01-2008, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
TwoTankAmin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westchester Co., NY Posts: 716	The stuff grow like a weed for me. I hack and prune it mercilessly but eventually it overtakes me and the tank until it literally lifts out of the substrate like some massive floating island. I really do not think you can over prune it unless you cut it all the way down to the substrate, and even then I would not bet it wont recover. __________________ Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.

05-02-2008, 08:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,902	The trick I've found for babies tears is that it grows different under different lighting--if it is really strong it will creep across the substrate, with lower light it will grow upright, if the light is too indirect or not strong enough it will grow weedy with longer stems. It is possible to just prune it into shapes, but it would take pretty constant trimming to get it to stay in that shape--the stuff grows like crazy, and will sneak under and through and around to get places--I pulled out little bits that tried to grow under rock. __________________ Reality--go 'way!

05-02-2008, 12:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
DaisyTattoo It's a girl Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 3,025	Will it grow in very low light? __________________ It's not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.

05-02-2008, 01:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
TwoTankAmin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westchester Co., NY Posts: 716	There are two different plants which routinely get called baby tears. One is Hemianthus micranthemoides (formerly Micranthemum micranthemoides) and the other is Micranthemum umbrosum. The are very similar looking. However, the first will do OK in moderate to high light levels while the second really needs high light and co2. Both are listed on the tropica site. __________________ Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.

05-02-2008, 02:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,275	Thanks TTA and Sara. It's in my high light/co2/fert tank, and has begun to really grow. I'll experiment. Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

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