Curated catalog
Calli / HC Cuba
Hemianthus callitrichoides
Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' (HC) is the carpeting plant with the smallest leaves in aquascaping, ideal for creating grass carpets of unparalleled density. It is extremely demanding: it requires intense lighting to stay low and mandatory CO2 injection at high levels, combined with complete fertilization. Its fragile roots make it incompatible with bottom-dwelling fish. It requires surgical pruning to prevent the bottom layers from rotting and the entire carpet from detaching.
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Origin
- Endemica di Cuba, scoperta nei pressi dell'Avana in piccoli corsi d'acqua a corso lento e zone paludose.
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
20 °C - 28 °C
5.5 - 7
Freshwater
Alta
Alta (25-30 ppm obbligatoria)
Description
The CO2 Dictatorship and the Uselessness of Palliatives (The Absolute Carbon Futile Deaf Mute):
Without a pressurized CO2 system (cylinder), give up HC Cuba from the start. Do not waste money. Liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde) or DIY yeast CO2 are not enough to push it. It requires a constant 25-30 ppm. If the light is very high but the CO2 is low, the plant will succumb under filamentous algae in a week. And if the light does not penetrate to the bottom, the plant will etiolate, growing vertically to escape the shadow, ruining the lawn effect.
Care and observations
The Fatal Detachment and the Ruthless Pruning (The Flying Carpet Futile Blind):
The main problem with HC Cuba is not growing it, but keeping it attached to the bottom. As it grows, the plant layers upon layers. If the thickness exceeds 2-3 cm, the light will no longer reach the roots. The entire base will rot, turning into a black mush, and your perfect lawn will detach, floating to the surface like a flying carpet. You must PRUNE RUTHLESSLY every 3 weeks, cutting at ground level with curved scissors. Have no mercy.
Plant profile
- Placement
- Primo Piano (Foreground)
- Light
- Alta
- CO2
- Alta (25-30 ppm obbligatoria)
- Growth
- Medio (Veloce se con CO2 e luce estrema)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.