Micro Sword / Lilaeopsis Novaezelandiae UNS Tissue Culture
Plant Profile
Micro Sword is an excellent foreground plant for beginners trying their hand at growing a carpeting plant for the very first time. When planted densely in groups toward the front of an aquarium, it creates a gorgeous, wild, grass-like effect that brings a highly natural impression to your layout. Over time, it will fill in to form a lush, flowing carpet that sways beautifully in the current. Thanks to its dense growth profile, this plant is incredibly versatile, working just as well as a compact midground accent or even a background filler in smaller nano aquariums.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
- A beginner-friendly species that is highly forgiving for first-time carpet growers.
- Create a wild, flowing, grass-like lawn effect that adds movement and texture to your foreground.
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 prep and planting process by checking out a beginner's guide to tissue culture plants to prevent your delicate new plantlets from melting or floating away.
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 novaezelandiae |
| Common Name(s) | Microsword, Copragrass, Micro Sword |
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette / Carpeting Foreground |
| Care Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Recommended (Promotes faster runner spreading) |
| Placement / Usage | Foreground Carpet |
| 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 | Cut and replant horizontal runners |
| Origin | South America |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I plant Micro Sword tissue culture?
Rinse away the nutrient gel under cool water, divide the mat into small portions containing 4–6 blades each, and use pinsettes to insert each clump deep into fine aquasoil spaced 1 inch apart.
2. Why is my Micro Sword growing tall instead of staying low?
Micro Sword stretches its leaf blades upward in lower lighting setups as it reaches for light. Increasing your light intensity and supplying pressurized CO2 forces the plant to produce shorter, thicker blades and spread horizontally via runners.
3. How long does it take for Micro Sword to form a dense carpet?
With medium-to-high light, pressurized CO2, and nutrient-rich soil, runner spreading typically begins within 2–3 weeks, filling in a unified lawn in about 6 to 10 weeks.