How to get dwarf hairgrass to carpet

[Deng09]

I have a 10 gallon dirt tank. I have diy co2 running, and 2 of these 10 watt bulbs in the original hood: http://www.aqueonproducts.com/produc...scent-lamp.htm

I put in some dwarf hairgrass about a month ago and it hasnt done much of anything. Most of it died off, and the stuff that remains slowly grows taller if I trim it, but doesnt send runners. My stems plants grew like crazy and so did my crypt, but I cant get this stuff to spread at all.

Does anyone have any advice? Do I need more light?

[Cardoc]

I have a high tech 55g tank and I got a few runners, but it was impossible to keep clean, so after about four months I took it out of the tank, it needs strong light and co2, but still will not grow that fast.

[Monster Fish]

You have the right conditions to get it to grow. To get it to spread, plant it in small clumps with 1-2 plants per clump. Position the clumps in a grid or checkerboard pattern and it should spread faster for you. Don't be tempted to trim just yet. Let it produce a few runners first before trimming.

[OVT]

The bulbs you are using are for Marine tanks, not for freshwater plants.
These bulbs (should be) better:
http://www.aqueonproducts.com/produc...scent-lamp.htm
or any bulbs that fit into your hood at ~6,700K

[Barbgirl]

I've used the 50/50 bulbs for growing easy plants such as moss and some stems for a while and they love it. Not sure if it strong enough for hairgrass though.

Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2

[scapegoat]

you just gotta let the plant go... I planted in clumps of, probably, 20, because I'm too lazy to separate them all out. They're tossing out runners now, but still not nearly close to filling in.

[jester56]

I have a couple of big clumps in my 50 that have been there about six months. I've had to trim them down because of a BBA problem. Had the same slow growth problem, though. Then, about three weeks ago, it went crazy. Started sending out runners and growing like it never had. I use CO2 and Excel, with root tabs. I guess patience has been the key. I wish I had known about breaking them up and planting them in a grid as I would have done that...

[MarkM]

I read about starting DHG dry on the Barr Report and have a batch started this weekend. It is supposed to reduce the start time exponentially. I have a tray with a 2" lip filled to 3/4 inch with potting soil. I bought a 4x4" section of the grass and cut it up into 1/2" squares and planted it in the soil. Saturated the mix so that the water fills the soil but does not cover the plant. I have a normal desk top florescent lamp on a timer above it. Also, the tray is placed near a window with lots of sun. I am supposed to see fantastic results in two weeks, we will see.

[GeToChKn]

what kind of gravel, and DHG loves root tabs. It's been a few months in my tank with Netlea Aquasoil, root tabs, excel, 2x13w Home Depot CFL lights and I have runners going everywhere. It will probably take 6 months to fill in, but it's getting there and low light and now CO2, I expected that.

[roncruiser]

I have Dwarf Hair Grass growing and sending out runners in a 2 gallon bowl. No Co2. 5000K 19W CFL @ 8 hours per day. Substrate is Amazonia. Not fast but steady growth. Initially, I believed I would not have any success with DHG. Good luck.

Ron

[Couesfanatic]

Anyone have pics?

[OVT]

Originally Posted by Couesfanatic

Anyone have pics?

I think mine needs a bit of trimming:

[Deng09]

Originally Posted by OVT

The bulbs you are using are for Marine tanks, not for freshwater plants.
These bulbs (should be) better:
http://www.aqueonproducts.com/produc...scent-lamp.htm
or any bulbs that fit into your hood at ~6,700K

Before I buy these, are there any other bulbs that would be even better? Hopefully that would fit in the same fixture as these.

[minicrazy592]

You need to start off with something like this and plant a lot of them in addition to the lighting aspect.

[Optix]

all you need is patience

it can grow in low-high light...co2 or no co2...a lot of ferts or very few (though ferts should almost always be "high" for most tanks)
DHG is a very low maintenance/easy plant

i grow some in a window sill in 2 jars and a vase from 3 sprigs

the vase only gets indirect sunlight so it took a solid 6months before it filled in (and its very tall ~4")

in my jars that get direct sunlight (no co2) it took about 2months to fill in and it is short ~1"

I just moved it over to my high light/high co2/high fert tank and it hasnt done much (a few runners here and there in a months time)

but in a few months it will spread like crazy

PATIENCE is what you need...it starts out slow and then explodes with growth