Product description
About the species
Eriocaulon cinereum is a small rosette plant with extremely narrow leaves that form a dense, needle-like cushion. The genus is otherwise known for demanding soft water, but this particular species is more tolerant and copes with medium-hard water too. It flowers readily soon after planting, throwing up a mass of slender flower stems that give it a look all of its own.
Facts
• Latin name: Eriocaulon cinereum
• Plant type: Rosette plant
• Origin: Widespread worldwide
• Height: 3–10 cm
• Growth rate: Slow
• Position: Foreground
Light requirement
High light requirement. It wants a strong light unit and a clear view of the surface — shaded by taller plants it quickly loses its lower leaves. Strong lighting also demands that CO₂ and nutrients stay in balance, otherwise algae take over.
CO₂ & nutrition
Requires injected CO₂ at roughly 15–25 mg/l to grow properly. Without CO₂ it stalls, drops its lower leaves and quickly becomes a foothold for algae. Fertilise daily or every other day with both macro- and micronutrients.
Planting
Plant the root ball in the substrate so the roots are covered but the crown — where the new leaves emerge — sits just above it. Burying the growth point makes the plant rot. Give it plenty of room, since the leaves spread out in a rosette.
Rinse all the gel off in lukewarm water before planting, otherwise it can cause bacterial cloudiness. The cup holds many small plants — divide them up and plant them in several portions.
Care & propagation
Cut old outer leaves off at the base once they start to look tired, and the rosette stays fresh. The plant propagates itself with daughter plants from the rootstock; separate them from the mother plant once they have their own roots and a few leaves.
Position in the aquarium
Its low mature size makes it a foreground plant. Place it right at the front where nothing shades it, and let it form a continuous surface in front of the taller plants.
Difficulty level
🔴 Advanced — requires strong lighting, added CO₂ and careful fertilisation.
Delivery format
Delivered as 1-2-Grow! — a laboratory-grown cup holding many small plants in nutrient gel. Because the plant is cultivated in vitro it is completely free of snails, algae, planaria and pesticides, which makes it the safest choice for a shrimp aquarium.
Recommendation
A collector's plant for anyone who already has strong light and stable CO₂ — otherwise it never looks its best. Flowering takes a lot of energy, so nip off the flower stems if you would rather have a dense, vigorous rosette.
