Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei) - Potted

Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo') is the carpet plant that made lush green lawns achievable for everyone: bright, button-round leaves that creep across the substrate and knit into a dense, rolling carpet, with far less fuss than its famously demanding cousin, dwarf baby tears. Sold as a healthy potted portion ready to split into plugs. Browse the rest of our live freshwater plants to finish the aquascape.

Care Guide

• Planting: remove the pot and rock wool, split the portion into 6 to 10 small plugs, and plant them an inch or two apart in the foreground. They fill the gaps as they run.
• Light: the main ingredient. Medium light grows a loose carpet; higher light grows a tight, low lawn. In dim tanks it slowly reaches upward instead of creeping.
• CO2 and fertilizer: optional but accelerating. Monte Carlo carpets fine in low-tech setups, just more slowly; root tabs or liquid fertilizer keep the green vivid.
• Water parameters: 68 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Flexible and forgiving once rooted.
• Trimming: once established, mow it like a lawn every few weeks. Trimming keeps the carpet dense and stops the lower layer from lifting off the substrate.
• Shrimp safe: a favorite grazing ground for dwarf shrimp, and dense enough to shelter shrimplets and fry.

Specifications

Placement & Companions

Monte Carlo is the classic foreground lawn in front of midground plants like Staurogyne repens and taller stems behind. If you want a finer-textured showpiece lawn and have strong light, compare Dwarf Baby Tears; for a taller, clover-like runner try Hydrocotyle 'Japan'. It pairs beautifully with Neocaridina shrimp and nano fish like Ember Tetras, and goldfish are the main fish to avoid, since they uproot and snack on carpets.

FAQ

Monte Carlo or Dwarf Baby Tears?
Monte Carlo has slightly larger leaves and is far more forgiving: it tolerates lower light, carpets without CO2, and roots more firmly. Dwarf Baby Tears wins on fine texture but demands high light and CO2 to thrive.

Why is my carpet floating up?
Usually an overgrown carpet whose bottom layer died back in shade, or plugs planted too shallow. Plant plugs firmly, keep it trimmed, and it stays anchored.

Do I need CO2?
No. With decent light and patience it carpets in low-tech tanks over a couple of months. CO2 roughly doubles the speed and density.

Can it grow attached to rocks or wood?
Yes, it can be tied or glued to hardscape where it drapes over edges, a popular trick for a hanging-garden look.