Micro Sword / Lilaeopsis Novaezelandiae
Plant Profile
Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis) is an exceptional choice for beginners wanting to tackle an underwater carpet for the very first time. Growing in thick, beautifully arching tufts, this hardy species can transform your foreground into a wild, lush field when planted in dense groups. It is incredibly versatile and works just as well as a compact midground or background filler in nano aquariums, thanks to its dense growth profile. It maps out your substrate by pushing out horizontal runners.
Key Features & Benefits
- A beginner-friendly species that is highly forgiving for first-time carpet growers.
- Achieve a wild, natural meadow look in your tank with its unique, arching tufts of green.
- Versatile profile works as a foreground carpet or scales up beautifully into a nano midground backdrop.
Care & Planting Instructions
- To get that iconic, tight, short-statured grass lawn look, simply pair it with high lighting and a steady supply of CO2.
- Give this plant room to spread naturally, as it grows by sending out runners horizontally throughout the substrate.
- Keep the growth short and compact by maintaining high light and CO2 parameters, creating a manicured underwater lawn of green.
- Propagate simply like other foreground plants by cutting out portions from the horizontal shoots and replanting the clumps that you cut out.
- Master the basics by learning how to properly grow aquarium carpet plants to ensure your new layout fills in quickly, evenly, and stays free of algae.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lilaeopsis brasiliensis |
| Common Name(s) | Micro Sword, Microsword, Copragrass |
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Carpeting Foreground to Midground |
| Care Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Recommended (Accelerates carpet density) |
| Placement / Usage | Foreground Carpet / Nano Midground |
| Height / Size | 1-3 inches |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.5 – 7.5 | Temperature 68°F – 80°F (20°C – 27°C) |
| Propagation Method | Separate runners and replant |
| Origin | South America (Brazil) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I plant Micro Sword?
Use fine-tip pinsettes to push each clump deep into nutrient-rich aquasoil, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow runners to spread.
2. Can Micro Sword grow without CO2 injection?
Yes. Micro Sword is one of the most forgiving carpeting plants for beginners and can grow in low-tech tanks without pressurized CO2. However, providing CO2 and medium-to-high lighting will significantly speed up its growth and help it form a much thicker, lower-profile lawn.
3. How does Micro Sword differ from Dwarf Hairgrass?
While both form lawn-like carpets, Micro Sword features wider, flattened, blade-like leaves resembling miniature lawn turf, whereas Dwarf Hairgrass has needle-thin, cylindrical stalks.