Who Gives A Fish Forums

My monte carlo carpet plant is doing well and still looks super healthy, but it's been 3 weeks and I'm not seeing the spread I was expecting - it's just shooting up vertically instead.

I'm inclined to think it's due to my substrate choice, sand seems like it would compact more than gravel.

If that's the issue fluxx, would trimming the monte carlo and replanting it do the trick?

I think the plant should split pretty easily. The dense substrate might be making it harder for the runners to spread out and grow.

Monte Carlo carpet plants also tend to thrive with calcium, I've read that it's a key nutrient for them.

What's your setup like for this monte carlo carpet plant? If you've got it under higher lighting, that could be why it's staying compact - might need to keep trimming and replanting those cuttings to get it to spread out instead.

Your lighting might be the issue, not strong enough to keep it short and promote carpeting.