{"product_id":"juncus-repens-lesser-creeping-rush-potted-freshwater-plant","title":"Lesser Creeping Rush (Juncus repens) - Potted","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\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\u003eLesser Creeping Rush\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eJuncus repens\u003c\/em\u003e), usually sold under its scientific name, is a fine grassy plant with an unusual habit: flattened stems interrupted at regular intervals by tufts of needle-thin leaves, so it reads as somewhere between a grass and a stem plant. Under moderate light it is a soft, bright green. Push the light and the nutrients and the tips flush copper and rust red, which is the reason most people buy it. It is undemanding, needs no CO2, and it is one of the few aquarium plants native to our own corner of the world. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003elive freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the tank.\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\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight drives the color:\u003c\/strong\u003e low to moderate light gives you a healthy green plant. Strong light plus good nutrients is what turns the tips orange and red. A planted-spectrum fixture like the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fluval-plant-4-0-aquarium-led-lights\"\u003eFluval Plant 4.0 LED\u003c\/a\u003e makes the difference.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeed it from both ends:\u003c\/strong\u003e it roots well and appreciates \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-tabs\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e in the substrate, plus a water-column dose of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e. Iron and trace elements are what bring out the red.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 68 to 80°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. It is genuinely tolerant and even handles cooler tanks that most tropical plants sulk in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2:\u003c\/strong\u003e not required. It grows fine without it, just faster and denser with it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting:\u003c\/strong\u003e peel off the net pot, tease out the rock wool, and separate the clump into a few smaller portions. Plant them a couple inches apart and they will knit together as the runners spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatch for green spot algae:\u003c\/strong\u003e the steady, unhurried growth rate makes the older leaves a target. Keep phosphate from bottoming out, trim the worst leaves, and let a cleanup crew work the rest.\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;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eJuncus repens\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLesser Creeping Rush, Creeping Rush\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePotted plant, net pot with rock wool\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eForeground to midground, grouped\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e4 to 8 inches, creeping sideways\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLow to high (high light for red tips)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCO2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eNot required, beneficial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e68 to 80°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\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;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eModerate, spreads by runners and side shoots\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSoutheastern United States, Mexico, Cuba\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\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;\"\u003eA Local Native\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJuncus repens grows wild across the southeastern United States, Georgia included, in ditches, pond margins, and slow blackwater. That heritage is why it shrugs off temperature swings and water chemistry that fussier imports will not tolerate. It is a natural fit for a biotope tank built around native or blackwater species, and it pairs beautifully with botanicals and driftwood.\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;\"\u003ePlacement \u0026amp; Companions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant it in loose groups in the foreground or midground where the fine texture contrasts against broad-leaved plants. It sits well next to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-sagittaria-sagittaria-subulata-potted\"\u003eDwarf Sagittaria\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-hairgrass-eleocharis-parvula-freshwater-carpet-plant\"\u003eDwarf Hairgrass\u003c\/a\u003e for a layered grassy foreground, and the arching stems give shrimp and fry somewhere to hide. Completely safe with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e, nerite snails, and community fish.\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;\"\u003eRecommended Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-tabs\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e root fertilizer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e water-column trace elements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fluval-plant-and-shrimp-stratum\"\u003eFluval Plant \u0026amp; Shrimp Stratum\u003c\/a\u003e nutrient substrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fluval-plant-4-0-aquarium-led-lights\"\u003eFluval Plant 4.0 LED\u003c\/a\u003e to bring out the red\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\u003eHow do I get the red color?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStrong light first, then iron and trace elements. In a low-light tank it stays green and healthy, which is perfectly fine, but the copper and rust tones only show up when you push the lighting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need CO2?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. It grows without it. CO2 makes it fill in faster and hold color more easily, but plenty of people run it in low-tech tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it a stem plant or a rosette?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoth, in a sense. It has flattened stems with leaf tufts spaced along them. Propagate it like a stem plant: cut a top below a leaf cluster and replant it. Rooted or not, it takes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it carpet?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot a true carpet, but it creeps and sends out side shoots, so a group planted a couple inches apart fills in into a low grassy thicket over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are the older leaves getting spotty?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreen spot algae likes slow-growing leaves. It is common on this plant and not a sign of poor health. Keep phosphate from hitting zero and trim the worst leaves at water-change time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get my plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese are in-store pickup only. We hold your order and pull it fresh when you arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49051151925467,"sku":null,"price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/Juncus.png?v=1785679806","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/juncus-repens-lesser-creeping-rush-potted-freshwater-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}