Why Is My Dwarf Hair Grass Turning Brown

My dwarf hair grass is turning brown

 

It's a really difficult plant to keep without premium substrate and good lighting. It needs a very rich soil to do well. I'm excellent with plants and it's one of the few species I've struggled with.(really the only one)

 

It's a really difficult plant to keep without premium substrate and good lighting. It needs a very rich soil to do well. I'm excellent with plants and it's one of the few species I've struggled with.(really the only one)

Ok I'm putting in new substrate with root tabs and liquid fertilizer

 

The brown dying part is it's emmersed growth; this plant was grown only partially submerged in water. The stalks are actually capped with flower buds.

The emmersed portion will die back, and it is best to actually cut the plant back to encourage it to put out new growth.

Dwarf hairgrass is not for beginners. It likes a fine, nutrient-rich substrate, medium to high lighting intensity, and prefers an environment rich in CO2. If you cannot provide those conditions growth will be slow, stunted, sparse, and the plant may just die. If you have sand I suggest root tabs. If you have gravel, then, to be perfectly honest, don't expect amazing results even with root tabs.

 

The brown dying part is it's emmersed growth; this plant was grown only partially submerged in water. The stalks are actually capped with flower buds.

The emmersed portion will die back, and it is best to actually cut the plant back to encourage it to put out new growth.

Dwarf hairgrass is not for beginners. It likes a fine, nutrient-rich substrate, medium to high lighting intensity, and prefers an environment rich in CO2. If you cannot provide those conditions growth will be slow, stunted, sparse, and the plant may just die. If you have sand I suggest root tabs. If you have gravel, then, to be perfectly honest, don't expect amazing results even with root tabs.

How much should I cut it back

 

Liquid ferts don't do much for hairgrass since it gets most of its needs from its roots rather than the water column unlike many aquatic plant species. I'm actually about to start on a rather complicated build mostly for growing hairgrass and a few other plants.

 

How much should I cut it back

Go ahead and plant it in small bundles spaced evenly and wait at least a week or so. This will give it time to take root in your substrate. After this time, cut it down low with some curved scissors (easier than straight ones) so that it is about 1/3 it's original height. In the right conditions it should spring back.

I can't stress "right conditions" enough, however. If you lack the previously mentioned amenities, it will probably struggle.

AssistanttotheRegionalMgr what type of substrate are you using? To get good results most people will use either dirt capped with sand or a premium aquasoil like ADA or Controsoil.

 

AssistanttotheRegionalMgr what type of substrate are you using? To get good results most people will use either dirt capped with sand or a premium aquasoil like ADA or Controsoil.

A fine soil with some nutrients added and root tabs

 

A fine soil with some nutrients added and root tabs

Can you be more specific i.e. sand, pea gravel, etc.

Also, what is your lighting?

PS - Your hairgrass will do a lot better if removed from the pot.

 

Can you be more specific i.e. sand, pea gravel, etc.

Also, what is your lighting?

PS - Your hairgrass will do a lot better if removed from the pot.

It's just fine substrate

I have a nicrew light 7500 Kelvin

I'm leaving in the pot just until the root tabs I ordered arrive (2 days)