This potted Helanthium (Echinodorus) Tenellus — also called Dwarf Chain Sword — arrives rooted and ready to plant. This grass-like carpeting plant spreads by runners and, once established, forms a dense green foreground lawn. Skill Level Moderate CO2 Optional (recommended for compact carpet growth) Requires Aqua Soil Recommended Type Rooted Max Height 2-3" Placement Foreground Light Level Medium to High (approx. 50-90 PAR) Origin North America Other Also available as Tissue Culture. Can also work as a short background plant in nano tanks. Care & Planting: Remove from the pot and root wool, then plant with tweezers a couple inches apart to let runners fill in. A note on "melting": Like most Amazon Swords and Cryptocoryne species, this plant is farm-grown emersed (above water). When you first submerge it, don't be alarmed if the original leaves die back over the first few weeks — this is called melting, and it's a normal part of the transition, not a sign the plant is failing. Emersed leaves are built for air and only have stomata on their underside; once submerged, the plant sheds them in favor of new underwater leaves with stomata on both sides, better suited to absorbing CO2 from the water. New submersed growth typically appears within a few weeks.
