Care specifications
| Type | Carpet |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Light | High (50–90 µmol PAR) |
| CO2 | Required |
| Fertilizer demand | High |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Max height | 1 in |
| Spread | 4 in |
| Placement | Foreground |
| Attaches to hardscape | No |
| Snail & shrimp safe | Yes |
| Temperature | 68–80 °F |
| pH | 6–7.2 |
| Color | Green |
| Trimming | Frequent |
| Styles | Iwagumi, Nature |
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Propagation
Spreads by runners; split a mat into small plugs and plant them close together to seed the carpet.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Glossostigma growing tall instead of carpeting?
Insufficient light is the classic cause. When underlit, glosso stretches vertically to reach the surface rather than creeping flat. It needs strong light hitting the substrate plus CO2 to grow horizontally; raise the light, keep CO2 steady, and trim it down to force low, dense growth.
Can a beginner grow a Glossostigma carpet?
Honestly, it is a poor first carpet. It demands high light, CO2, and good substrate together, and falls apart if any are lacking. If you want a carpet without CO2, Monte Carlo or dwarf sagittaria are far more forgiving; save glosso for when you have a high-energy setup dialed in.
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