Common Name
Creeping rush, Lesser creeping rush
Description
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.
Source
Flowgrow
Characteristic
Grasslike stem plant
Unique growth habit
Relatively slow grower
Complete Botanical Name
Júncus répens Michx.
Family
Juncaceae
Genus
Juncus
Category
Middle Ground
Difficulty
easy
Growth
fast
Carbon Dioxide
need
pH Value
5-7
Temperature Tolerance
4-28℃
Carbonate Hardness
0-14 dKH
General Hardness
0-30 °dGH
Propagation
Cuttings, Splitting, Cutting off daughter plants
Can Grow Emersed?
yes
