Juncus repens Creeping rush

Creeping rush, Lesser creeping rush

The Creeping rush originates from swampy areas of the southeasern USA, Cuba and eastern Mexico. Its long shoots float in shallow water, and the emersed plant grows creeping on wet bottom, therefore its name. In its submerged form, it is a loosely upright growing stem plant with tufted side shoots and water roots. Its leaves get about 10 cm long and 3 mm wide. Without trimming, Juncus repens grows in the aquarium to the surface where it develops a dense mat, but the lower parts start to look unsightly. Its grass-like bushes look best when they do not exceed a height of about 20-30 cm. Under moderate light, it has a pleasant, freshly green colour, but it assumes a brown-red hue under intense lighting and good micronutrient supply. This grass-like plant is not very demanding but grows best with medium to strong lighting, CO₂ addition and complete macro- and micronutrient supply. Its growth is generally moderate, and its long-living leaves are a little susceptible for green spot algae. However its growth may be quite fast with ample light, CO₂ and nutrient supply. Regular trimming supports a bushy growth habit. The Creeping rush is propagated by cuttings of the shoot tops and rosette-like side shoots. Juncus repens is a versatile plant for aquascapes, as accent plant or larger bushy stand in the midground to background. It is even useable in the foreground of not too small aquariums when it is kept trimmed. Even though other members of the rush family (Juncaceae) are popular plants for ponds or their edges, Juncus repens, the lesser creeping rush, is their only representative used in aquaria so far. Its habit is quite unique, as it looks like a mixture of stem and rosulate plant. Its flattish stem is interrupted by tufts of numerous narrow, pointed leaves in regular distances. This rush species is quite common the southeast of the US, where it is found growing emersed as well as submersed. Even though it is not frequently found in trade in its country of origin, it is readily available for European hobbyists. The overall requirements of J. repens are easy to meet, and the plant does well in a multitude of different setups, it grows equally well under low light as under strong light. Given unhindered exposure to light and a good supply of micronutrients, the plant assumes a reddish hue. Under lesser light, it is of a beautiful green. Its moderate but constant growth rate makes it easy to work with, however, for the same reason it is a tad susceptible to green spot algae. Propagation is best done by cutting off the upper part of a shoot under a leaf cluster and replanting it. The new plant does not have to have roots. Juncus repens is a variable species and offers diverse possibilities for decorating a tank-as a "filler" plant or as background plant for aquaria of any size and style. However, it can be used as an accent for the middleground, too. It is even suitable for the foreground when kept short by trimming.

Flowgrow

Grasslike stem plant Unique growth habit Relatively slow grower

Júncus répens Michx.

Juncaceae

Juncus

Background

easy

fast

need

5-7

4-28℃

0-14 dKH

0-30 °dGH

Cuttings, Splitting, Cutting off daughter plants

yes