Giant Baby Tears [Micranthemum Umbrosum]

Micranthemum umbrosum — Giant Baby Tears

Lush, bright green rounded leaves that carpet or grow bushy — a fast, easy, no-CO2 foreground filler

Giant Baby Tears is a lush, bright green plant from North America, loved for its small, rounded leaves and versatile growth. It's a fast grower that works beautifully as a vibrant foreground or midground, and it can be shaped in different ways depending on how you plant and light it: give it space and bright light and it spreads horizontally to cover the substrate in fresh green; plant it densely or in lower light and it grows more upright as a bushy accent. Easy to care for and undemanding of CO2, it's a low-maintenance, adaptable choice for adding lively greenery to any aquascape — whether you want a soft green carpet or a fuller mid-ground bush.

AQUASCAPING TIP: Its shape is yours to control: plant the portions spread out with bright light and it grows low and spreads to cover the foreground; plant it densely or in lower light and it grows taller and bushier. Trim regularly either way to keep it dense and encourage fuller growth. It's a fast grower that needs no CO2 — just decent light, a trim now and then, and it fills in quickly.

AT A GLANCE

CARE GUIDE

CUSTOMER QUESTIONS ANSWERED

(Q) Should I plant it densely or spread out — and how do I get it to spread instead of grow tall?

= Giant Baby Tears is unusual in that its growth habit responds to both planting density and light. When you plant the portions spread out and give it bright light, they grow more horizontally — spreading its lush green leaves to cover the foreground like a loose carpet. When planted too densely or in lower light, it tends to grow upward instead, forming a taller, bushier clump. So if you want a low, spreading, carpet-like effect, space the plants out and provide strong light; if you'd rather have a bushy accent, plant it tighter. Trimming regularly in either case keeps it dense and encourages fuller growth.

(Q) Is it easy, and does it need CO2?

= Yes — it's genuinely easy and needs no CO2, making it a fast-growing, forgiving plant that's great for beginners. It's worth knowing that it's a different, much easier plant than the demanding "Dwarf Baby Tears" (HC) carpet, which requires high light and CO2 — Giant Baby Tears fills in and spreads without any of that. It does best in medium-to-high light, which keeps it dense and encourages horizontal spreading; in lower light it grows more slowly and vertically. No high-tech setup required — just decent light and the occasional trim, and it rewards you with lush, fast greenery.

(Q) How do I plant and use it — foreground carpet or bushy midground?

= It's a versatile stem plant, so planting is simple: separate the bundle into small portions and push the stems gently into the substrate, spacing them out for a lush, low foreground-to-midground spread — or plant them closer together for a taller, bushier look. Trim the tops and replant the cuttings to build density; as a fast grower, it fills in quickly. If it was grown emersed, it may drop a few leaves as it adjusts to submerged growth — this is normal, so don't discard it and just give it time to settle in. A nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs plus some liquid fertilizer help it thrive.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1 Giant Baby Tears (Micranthemum umbrosum) bundle, ready to plant on arrival. Space the portions out with bright light for a low-spreading carpet, or plant them more densely for a bushier look. It may drop a few leaves as it transitions to submersed growth — this is normal (see the FAQ). Remove the band and rinse gently before planting. Photos are representative of the species; your specimen may vary slightly in size.

Ships within 10–15 business days.