Product description

Dwarf Baby Tears 2" pot

Dwarf Baby Tears care

Dwarf Baby Tears (Hemianthus callitrichoides) care guide

Dwarf Baby Tears (HC Cuba) are a beautiful and popular carpeting plant in planted aquariums, but they require a certain level of dedication and specific care to flourish. 

Here's what you need to provide for a thriving Dwarf Baby Tears carpet:

1. Lighting

Medium to High Intensity: Dwarf Baby Tears are photophilic and need bright, direct light to grow horizontally and compact, forming a dense carpet.

Duration: Aim for 10-12 hours of direct light per day.

Consider PAR: 40-50 PAR of LED lighting is a healthy target  Note that the depth of the tank impacts the light intensity reaching the plants.

Low Light Effects: Insufficient light will cause the stems to stretch upwards and become sparse, instead of carpeting. 

2. CO2 injection

Essential for carpeting: While they can technically survive without it, CO2 injection is highly recommended for Dwarf Baby Tears to thrive and form a lush, dense carpet.

Dosage: Aim for a steady injection of 10-30 mgl of CO2.

CO2 Deficiency: Stems growing upwards and smaller leaves can be signs of CO2 deficiency. 

3. Substrate

Nutrient-Rich: Dwarf Baby Tears have short, delicate roots and benefit greatly from a fine-grained, nutrient-rich substrate like ADA Amazonia aqua soil or Aqua Soil Powder.

Depth: A substrate depth of 1.5-2 inches is ideal for the roots to take hold.

Planting: Plant the stems deep enough to be anchored, but ensure the top part of the plant is not smothered by the substrate.

Anchoring: If the plants have trouble staying rooted, gently wedge them back into the substrate or consider using fine gravel or aquasoil to improve anchorage. 

4. Water parameters

Temperature: Maintain a stable temperature between 68-75°F (20-24°C).

pH: Optimal pH range is between 6.0 and 7.5.

Hardness: Appreciates a water hardness level between 1 and 10 dGH (soft to moderately hard water).

Consistency: Avoid sudden changes in water parameters, as this can cause Dwarf Baby Tears to "melt" (lose color and become translucent).

Regular Maintenance: Perform regular water changes and monitor water parameters with test kits. 

5. Fertilization

Liquid Fertilizers: While the substrate provides some nutrients, liquid fertilizers may be necessary, especially if you notice leaves becoming yellow or losing density.

Iron Supplements: Dwarf Baby Tears are susceptible to iron deficiencies, which can cause yellow shoots. 

6. Trimming

Regular Trimming: Essential for maintaining a dense carpet and preventing the lower parts from dying off due to lack of light.

How to Trim: Use sharp aquascaping scissors to trim the top parts of the plant, leaving a few centimeters above the substrate.

Avoid Up-rooting: Be gentle during trimming to avoid disturbing the delicate root system. 

7. Propagation

Runners: Dwarf Baby Tears naturally spread through runners, horizontal stems that send out new roots and shoots.

Stem Cuttings: You can also propagate by taking stem cuttings from mature plants and replanting them in the substrate. 

8. Aquarium mates and compatibility

Peaceful Fish: Platies, tetras, danios, and rasboras are generally compatible.

Freshwater Shrimp: Shrimp can be beneficial as they consume biofilm and algae without harming the plants.

Avoid: African cichlids, goldfish, barbs, rabbit snails, apple snails, crayfish, and crabs can be harmful to Dwarf Baby Tears. 

9. Common problems

Melting: A common issue during the transition from emersed to submerged growth or due to sudden changes in water parameters.

YellowingWhite Coloration: Can be caused by iron deficiency or insufficient light reaching the base of the plant.

Floating Plants: May occur if the roots aren't properly anchored or the substrate is too coarse.

Algae Growth: Dwarf Baby Tears are slow growers, and high light and nutrients can promote algae growth, potentially outcompeting the plant.

Shipping & policies