{"product_id":"mint-charlie-micromeria-brownei-potted-freshwater-plant","title":"Mint Charlie (Micromeria brownei) - 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\u003eMint Charlie\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eMicromeria brownei\u003c\/em\u003e, also listed as \u003cem\u003eClinopodium brownei\u003c\/em\u003e) is a genuine mint, and it smells like one if you crush a leaf between your fingers. In the tank it makes soft upright stems of small round bright green leaves that fill a midground gap quickly without the leggy sprawl of most stem plants. It is undemanding, roots readily from cuttings, and happily grows either underwater or emersed above the waterline, which makes it a favorite for paludariums and open-top tanks. See the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003elive freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e to plant around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\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:\u003c\/strong\u003e moderate. Standard planted-tank lighting is plenty. Under low light the stems stretch and the leaves space out, so if it is reaching, give it more light rather than more fertilizer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2:\u003c\/strong\u003e not required. It grows well without injection, and faster with it. A dose of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-excel\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Excel\u003c\/a\u003e is a reasonable middle ground if you want denser growth without a cylinder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFertilizer:\u003c\/strong\u003e a stem plant feeds mostly from the water column, so \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e on a regular schedule matters more here than root tabs do.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 68 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Tolerant across the normal community range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrimming and propagation:\u003c\/strong\u003e the entire method is to cut a stem and push the cutting into the substrate, where it roots in about a week. Trim the tops regularly and it thickens into a bush instead of a row of bare stalks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt arrived grown above water.\u003c\/strong\u003e Nursery stock is raised emersed, so remove the pot and rockwool before planting. Emersed leaves often melt during the switch to submersed growth. Do not pull the plant, the new underwater leaves come in behind them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\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;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eMicromeria brownei\u003c\/em\u003e (syn. \u003cem\u003eClinopodium brownei\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eMint Charlie, Creeping Charlie, Browne's Savory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eStem plant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperience level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eBeginner friendly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight requirement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCO2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eNot required, responds well to it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eMidground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e6 to 12 in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eModerate to fast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater temperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e68 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\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;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eCut a stem and replant it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eSoutheastern United States, Central and South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eOne potted plant, grown emersed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;vertical-align:top;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\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 and Companions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it goes:\u003c\/strong\u003e midground, planted in a group of five or more stems a couple of inches apart. One or two stems on their own look sparse; a clump reads as a soft green mound. Trim the front stems shorter than the back for depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePairs well with other stem plants.\u003c\/strong\u003e Run it alongside \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bacopa-caroliniana-potted\"\u003eBacopa Caroliniana\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/water-wisteria-hygrophila-difformis-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eWater Wisteria\u003c\/a\u003e for contrasting leaf size, with something red like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/rotala-vietnam-hra-rotundifolia-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eRotala Vietnam H'ra\u003c\/a\u003e behind it. The small round leaves also set off broad-leaved \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/anubias-barteri-potted\"\u003eAnubias\u003c\/a\u003e nicely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFish and invertebrates:\u003c\/strong\u003e safe with community fish and shrimp, and the dense stems make excellent cover for shrimplets and fry. It is soft enough that determined plant eaters like goldfish and large cichlids will eat it, so keep it out of those tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbove the waterline:\u003c\/strong\u003e because it grows emersed just as happily, it will climb out the top of an open tank or spread across a paludarium bank. Let it, or trim it at the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\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-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e: water column fertilizer, the main feed for any stem plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-excel\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Excel\u003c\/a\u003e: liquid carbon for denser growth without a CO2 cylinder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bacopa-caroliniana-potted\"\u003eBacopa Caroliniana\u003c\/a\u003e: a larger-leaved stem plant that contrasts well beside it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/rotala-vietnam-hra-rotundifolia-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eRotala \"Vietnam H'ra\"\u003c\/a\u003e: red background stems to plant behind the green.\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 planted substrate that helps cuttings root fast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\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\u003eDoes it really smell like mint?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes. It is in the mint family, and a crushed leaf smells distinctly minty. The scent does not carry into the water and it will not flavor anything, it is just a pleasant surprise when you trim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I grow it out of the water?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nEasily, and it may be how yours arrived. It grows emersed on pond margins in the wild, so it works in paludariums, riparium planters and open-top tanks where it can climb out. Emersed growth has slightly thicker leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy stems are tall and bare at the bottom.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nNot enough light. Stem plants stretch toward it and drop lower leaves when they are shaded. Increase the light or thin the group so light reaches the lower stems, then trim the tops and replant them to rebuild density.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it shrimp safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes, and shrimp love it. The fine stems trap biofilm and give shrimplets somewhere to hide. Just make sure anything you dose is copper free.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49222426788059,"sku":"PLANT-MINCHA","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/Mint-Charlie-Pot-White-Back-2.png?v=1788512189","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/mint-charlie-micromeria-brownei-potted-freshwater-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}