{"product_id":"dwarf-four-leaf-clover-potted","title":"Dwarf Four Leaf Clover (Marsilea hirsuta) - Potted","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E8F5E9;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Four Leaf Clover\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eMarsilea hirsuta\u003c\/em\u003e) is not actually a clover, it is an aquatic fern that happens to grow four-lobed leaves on short stalks. It is one of the most forgiving carpeting plants available, spreading by runners across the substrate at a pace that stays manageable in a low-tech tank. If dwarf hairgrass and baby tears have burned you before, this is the carpet to try instead. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003elive freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSold as a nursery pot in rock wool, ready to split into many small portions for planting out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:6px 0 10px;\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eCare Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eEasy, beginner friendly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLow to high (higher light keeps it flat and short)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eCO2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eNot required, speeds up carpeting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e68 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003epH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eHardness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e2 to 15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eForeground carpet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSlow to moderate, spreads by runners\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eHeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1 to 2 inches, taller in low light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eFeeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eRoot feeder, benefits from root tabs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAustralia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eWhy Dwarf Four Leaf Clover\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA low-tech carpet that actually works.\u003c\/strong\u003e It will fill in without CO2, which is more than dwarf baby tears or Monte Carlo can promise.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpreads on its own.\u003c\/strong\u003e Runners creep sideways under the substrate and pop up new leaves, so a single pot seeds a whole foreground over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChanges shape with your light.\u003c\/strong\u003e Low light gives you the tall four-leaf clover look. High light flattens it into small round single leaves that hug the substrate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTough roots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established the runner network holds substrate in place and resists being dug up by cories and shrimp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShrimp and snail safe.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense low growth is prime grazing territory for Neocaridina.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eHow to Plant\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlip the plant out of the pot and rinse the rock wool off the roots completely.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparate it into small portions of two or three stalks each using tweezers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant the portions about an inch apart across the foreground, roots buried and the leaf stalks above the substrate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd root tabs under the planting area. This is a root feeder and it fills in noticeably faster with them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep taller plants trimmed back so nothing shades the carpet. Shade is the usual reason a Marsilea carpet stalls or grows leggy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/easy-root-tabs-60-tablets\"\u003eAquarium Co-Op Easy Root Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e, the fastest way to get a carpet moving.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-eco-complete-planted-aquarium-black\"\u003eCaribSea Eco-Complete\u003c\/a\u003e, a nutrient-rich substrate for runner-spreading plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/monte-carlo-micranthemum-tweediei-potted\"\u003eMonte Carlo\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-hairgrass-eleocharis-parvula-freshwater-carpet-plant\"\u003eDwarf Hairgrass\u003c\/a\u003e, other foreground textures to blend at the edges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/crypt-parva-potted\"\u003eCrypt Parva\u003c\/a\u003e, a slow foreground crypt that layers nicely behind a Marsilea carpet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003eMore freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/maintenance-water-care\"\u003ewater care\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the scape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy leaves came in with only one lobe, not four. What happened?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNothing is wrong. \u003cem\u003eMarsilea\u003c\/em\u003e changes leaf form with light. Under strong light it grows short single-lobed leaves that look like tiny lily pads. Dim the light and the classic four-leaf shape returns on new growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need CO2 to carpet it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. It is one of the few true carpets that fills in without CO2. Expect months rather than weeks in a low-tech tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is mine growing tall and stringy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot enough light reaching the substrate. Either raise the intensity or trim back whatever is shading it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it really a clover?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. It is a fern, in the family Marsileaceae. It reproduces by spores rather than flowers, and the four-lobed leaf is pure coincidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill shrimp or snails eat it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. The leaves are tough and shrimp treat the carpet as a grazing surface for biofilm rather than food.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48297832415451,"sku":"FW5-PFOLED","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_2ec9fdae-b977-40a7-9dc9-42513120ff96.jpg?v=1771946415","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-four-leaf-clover-potted","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}