The short answer
Plant a carpet by splitting your carpeting plant into small portions and pressing each into a nutrient-rich substrate a couple of centimetres apart — then give it the high light and CO2 carpets need to grow low and spread. Done into good aquasoil with the right conditions, the portions send out runners and knit into a lawn.
Planting it, step by step
- Use a nutrient substrate. Aquasoil gives carpets the roots-down feeding they want. See the substrate hub.
- Divide the plant. Break the pot into many small clumps — more, smaller portions fill in faster than a few big ones.
- Plant with tweezers. Grip each portion near the roots and push it into the substrate at a slight angle so it stays put. Space them 2–3 cm apart.
- Fill gently to avoid uprooting your work, or use the dry start method (below).
- Trim as it spreads to keep it low and dense — see how to trim aquarium plants.
Carpets need high light and CO2
This is the part people underestimate. A carpet grows low and tight only under strong light with CO2 to match. Give it weak light and no CO2 and it stretches upward, thins out, or gets outcompeted by algae. If you’re not ready for a full CO2 setup, either choose a more forgiving foreground plant or expect slower, patchier results.
Tip: more light demands more CO2 and nutrients, not less. Balance all three or algae takes the surplus. Read CO2 for beginners before pushing the light.
Give it the best start
- Dry start method — grow the carpet emersed first, then flood. See what is the dry start method.
- Feed it — a balanced fertiliser keeps runners coming; browse the fertiliser hub.
- Light it right — pick a capable unit from our best light for a planted tank guide.
For the wider setup, see aquascaping for beginners.