🌿 Overview

Acmella repens is a hardy creeping stem plant native to South America. Known for its dense, bright green carpeting habit, it is commonly used in foreground planting, aquascaping layouts, and small tanks.

This plant is beginner-friendly, tolerant of a wide range of water parameters, and responds exceptionally well to CO₂ injection in high-tech setups, producing lush, compact carpets. It’s perfect for aquascapers looking to add texture, depth, and greenery to their planted aquariums.

🍃 Appearance

• Creeping, bright green, small oval leaves
• Forms dense, low-growing carpets
• Height: 2–5 cm
• Spreads horizontally to cover substrate
• Compact growth under moderate to high lighting

🌿 Plant Type (Hard/Soft)

• Type: Creeping stem plant
• Category: Soft aquatic plant
• Growth rate: Moderate

🌡️ Ideal Water Temperature

• 22°C – 28°C (72°F – 82°F)

💡 Lighting Conditions

• Medium to high lighting recommended
• Moderate light sufficient for slower growth
• High lighting ensures denser and more compact carpets

🌿 CO₂ Requirement

• Optional but recommended
• CO₂ promotes faster growth, compact leaves, and denser coverage

⚗️ Ideal pH Level

• pH: 6.0 – 7.5
• Prefers slightly acidic to neutral water

💧 Other Requirements

• Substrate: Prefers nutrient-rich substrate for optimal rooting
• Fertilization: Benefits from liquid fertilizers and root tabs
• Water hardness: Soft to moderately hard
• Regular trimming encourages horizontal growth and prevents leggy patches

🌱 Propagation

• Propagates via stem cuttings
• Cut healthy creeping stems and plant in substrate
• Side shoots spread quickly, forming a dense carpet

💡 Do You Know?

Acmella repens is often used as an alternative to Hemianthus callitrichoides in foreground aquascapes. It is particularly suitable for nano tanks and small aquascapes, creating lush green carpets without high maintenance.

🏷️ Plant Category Classification

🟢 Beginner Friendly

✔ Yes – Hardy and adaptable, suitable for novice aquarists

🟢 Non-CO₂ Plant (Low-Tech)

✔ Yes – Can survive without CO₂, though slower and less dense

🟢 High-Tech Plant

✔ Yes – Thrives faster, forms dense carpets, and develops compact growth with CO₂