Does anyone have any experience with Eleocharis montevidensis (giant hairgrass)?

[tfish]

Hi all! I wanted to get something to go in the background of my 55 gal. I have about 2 watts of lighting per gallon and will start DIY CO2 in just a few days. I saw some giant hairgrass (Eleocharis montevidensis) at my LFS and decided to pick some up. The tag on the plant says that it is a true aquatic and only requires mod lighting. The guy at the LFS agreed. I can tell that it propigates by runners as there are already runners coming out of the plant's basket. I have looked on the net and have had trouble finding info on this plant. Does anyone have any experience with it? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Robert H]

Its fairly easy to grow as long as you leave it alone, don't move it around, and don't plant it in shade, make sure it gets full, direct light. Make sure the gravel it is planted in it not too full of muck. If it cant get oxygen at the roots it will rot quickly

 

[thom336]

hairgrass is, in essence, a true aquatic plant.....but it prefers to be grown in damp conditions rather than complete submersion...for example, in propogators. this is where most people have success with this plant. i hav had very little success, because, i believe, i kept it at complete submersion. the roots just rotted away - that was tryin it with both dim and bright lighting, sand and gravel substrate, with and with chemical fertilisers. so when i try this plant again, i shall be opting for the partial submersion method.