{"product_id":"giant-hairgrass-eleocharis-montevidensis","title":"Giant Hairgrass  | Eleocharis montevidensis","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c!-- obsidian --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Giant Hairgrass on the Surface:\"\u003eGiant Hairgrass on the Surface:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiant Hairgrass (\u003cem\u003eEleocharis montevidensis\u003c\/em\u003e) is a rooted spikerush native to sandy lake shores, riverbanks, and wet meadows from the central and southern United States to South America. It spreads by runners into dense clumps of slender, upright stems that grow well above the leaf litter bed. In the Botanical Method Aquarium, these thickets provide refuge for fry, shrimp, betta fish, and other small fish, along with surfaces where biofilm can encrust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Essential Details\"\u003eEssential Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rooted, spreads via runners into dense clumps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to Medium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not Necessary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Runners and division\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTint Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to High\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabitat Location:\u003c\/strong\u003e Central and southern United States to Central America, and South America from Peru to Uruguay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOptimal For:\u003c\/strong\u003e Betta fish, shrimp, rasboras, and small tetras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse with Caution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rinse before introducing; may carry beneficial hitchhiking snails, snail eggs, or duckweed from the grow-out ponds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e 16 to 18 inches tall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuantities:\u003c\/strong\u003e Potted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Giant Hairgrass for Planted Aquariums \u0026amp; Blackwater Biotopes\"\u003eGiant Hairgrass for Planted Aquariums \u0026amp; Blackwater Biotopes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiant Hairgrass absorbs most of its micro- and macronutrients through its roots, so it grows best in a dirted aquarium or an inert sand substrate with root tabs. We separate each pot into small tufts and plant them a few inches apart between the leaf litter. Runners spread out from each tuft and root new stems into the perpetual substrate. As the clumps fill in, biofilm encrusts the stems and becomes a grazing resource for shrimp and our fishes, what we call supplemental nutrition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe darker the tint in your aquarium, the less light reaches your plants, and light dictates how quickly Giant Hairgrass spreads. Under low light it fills in slowly, and medium light encourages its runners to extend faster. CO2 injection is optional and can speed growth. Aquasoils absorb tannins from the water column, so an inert sand substrate with root tabs keeps the tint your botanicals release and the nutrients this plant needs at its roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRunners travel through the substrate from the base of each clump and send up new stems as they go. Its stems can reach the surface nano aquariums, so we place it along the back of mid-sized and larger aquariums. To keep open swimming space for bettas, rasboras, and small tetras, we thin clumps by slowly lifting them out of the substrate, which keeps clouds of dirt out of the water column. Excess plants go to the compost, and we never release aquarium plants into local waterways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Beneath the Leaves: *Eleocharis montevidensis* in the Wild\"\u003eBeneath the Leaves: \u003cem\u003eEleocharis montevidensis\u003c\/em\u003e in the Wild\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEleocharis montevidensis\u003c\/em\u003e is a spikerush, a member of the sedge family. Its slender green blades are its stems. Like every \u003cem\u003eEleocharis\u003c\/em\u003e, its leaves are reduced to small sheaths wrapped around the reddish stem base, so the stems carry out photosynthesis. In the wild it grows at the water's edge with its stems standing above the mud, and waterfowl and shorebirds eat the whole plant. Its species name refers to Montevideo, Uruguay, near the southern end of its range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere a botanical contributes as it breaks down, an aquatic plant is living and contributes as it grows. So let them grow. Mother Nature leads the way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Sustainability Note:\"\u003eSustainability Note:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease select a heat\/cold pack if necessary. Check your local weather before ordering to avoid any shipment holds or cancellations. All Plants may contain snails or snail eggs. We keep them in all of our aquariums for the benefits they provide. Our blackwater aquarium plants are provided in cooperation with PNW Bettas in adherence to their Shipping and DOA Policies. Your curated selection will arrive in their packaging separate from your botanical, wood \u0026amp; merch orders.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PNW Bettas","offers":[{"title":"Potted","offer_id":45619896320176,"sku":"sku-45937814306995","price":7.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0598\/7948\/9712\/files\/Giant-Hairgrass-Blackwater-Aquarium-Plants.jpg?v=1756076212","url":"https:\/\/bettabotanicals.com\/products\/giant-hairgrass-eleocharis-montevidensis","provider":"Betta Botanicals | Natural Aquarium Products","version":"1.0","type":"link"}