[dapellegrini]

I have two HM variants in my tank. One grows consistent 2-leaves per node and straight up, while the other creeps with 3-leaf nodes. Same tank, same conditions. Had both for more than 6 months.

It is a great plant especially for those searching for a good mid-ground plant. It is way too high maintenance for a foreground though, IME. It is a lot like texas sagebrush in my yard. I wish there was a small electric trimmer I could use to mold it better. Scissors work, but you will definitely have a huge mess floating around in your tank for a while.

 

[dapellegrini]

Ya you can scoop it off the top - as long as your filter is not blasting it every which way...

One side trimmed - the other still wild:

And some close-ups:

 

[dapellegrini]

Patience. It has always been an easy plant for me, but I have heard others have problems with it. It typically takes a while to adapt to a new tank, maybe 3-4 weeks, then it starts to take off.

 

[dapellegrini]

Yep - reach right in there and do what needs to be done. The fish don't mind as long as you don't get them between your scissors...

 

[dapellegrini]

Yes. The leaves go round instead of long and pointy.

Here is some that I got Emersed:

and here it is after about 3 weeks: