How much light does Glossostigma need?

Very high light, around 110–160 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.

Does Glossostigma need CO₂?

Yes. It is marked "required": without CO₂ it stretches, drops leaves and throws aerial roots, and fertiliser will not fix it.

What water does Glossostigma want?

18–26 °C, pH 5.5–7, 2–10 dGH. At 8 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

How fast does Glossostigma grow, and where does it go?

Growth rate: medium. Placement: foreground / carpet. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 1–3 cm. Difficulty: advanced.

G-02 / 18Freshwater

Glossostigma矮珍珠

Glossostigma elatinoides · Phrymaceae

The classic foreground carpet, and the most demanding: without enough light it climbs off the substrate.

Illustration to come

G-02 / 18 · Glossostigma Glossostigma elatinoides

SpecificationsPlant atlas

Name: 矮珍珠
Scientific name: Glossostigma elatinoides
Family: Phrymaceae
Origin: Riverbank wetlands of New Zealand and southeastern Australia
Light: Very high light
PAR: 110–160
CO₂: Required
Hardness: 2–10 dGH
Growth: Medium
Placement: Foreground / Carpet
Substrate: Substrate required
Height: 1–3 cm
Level: Advanced

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.18–26 °C

pH5.5–7

Hardness2–10 dGH

Alkalinity1–6 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Growing notes

1It needs more than 110 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and steady CO2; miss either and it grows upward instead of creeping.
2Plant divisions about a centimetre apart and let the stolons knit them together; keep sand-sifting fish out until the carpet closes.
3Mow it to a centimetre every two or three weeks or the shaded lower layer yellows and lifts.
4It prefers 18 to 24 °C and soft, slightly acid water, and in hard water with heat the leaves shrink and growth stalls.
5Iron shortage pales and yellows it, and carbon shortage rounds off the leaves, shrinks them and stops the creeping.

Frequently asked questions

How much light does Glossostigma need?: Very high light, around 110–160 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.
Does Glossostigma need CO₂?: Yes. It is marked "required": without CO₂ it stretches, drops leaves and throws aerial roots, and fertiliser will not fix it.
What water does Glossostigma want?: 18–26 °C, pH 5.5–7, 2–10 dGH. At 8 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
How fast does Glossostigma grow, and where does it go?: Growth rate: medium. Placement: foreground / carpet. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 1–3 cm. Difficulty: advanced.