About the species

Cryptocoryne usteriana is one of the largest Cryptocorynes, with strongly embossed leaves that grow more than 50 centimetres long. The leaves are three to five centimetres wide, and with plenty of light and nutrition the upper surface turns dark green to bronze-green while the reverse takes on burgundy red. The species comes from the Philippines, spreads by long runners and does very well even in decidedly alkaline water.

Facts

• Latin name: Cryptocoryne usteriana
• Plant type: Rosette plant
• Origin: Asia
• Height: 20–30 cm
• Growth rate: Slow
• Position: Background

Light requirement

Low light requirement. It manages with the lighting that comes with most aquariums and is happy in partial shade behind or beneath taller plants. Strong lighting does not harm it, but raises the risk of algae on the leaves because the plant cannot use all the available light.

CO₂ & nutrition

Manages entirely without added CO₂, which makes it as suitable for a simple aquarium as for an aquascape. Liquid carbon or injected CO₂ speeds up growth but is never a requirement. Dose an all-round fertiliser with iron and micronutrients every week.

Planting

Plant the root ball in the substrate so the roots are covered but the crown — where the new leaves emerge — sits just above it. Burying the growth point makes the plant rot. Give it plenty of room, since the leaves spread out in a rosette.

Carefully remove the pot and rinse the rock wool off the roots before planting — leftover rock wool can otherwise hinder rooting.

Care & propagation

Cut old outer leaves off at the base once they start to look tired, and the rosette stays fresh. The plant propagates itself with daughter plants from the rootstock; separate them from the mother plant once they have their own roots and a few leaves.

Position in the aquarium

Given its mature height it belongs at the back or along the sides, where it forms a dense wall of greenery and hides equipment. In a smaller aquarium it can also be used as a solitaire in one corner.

Difficulty level

🟢 Easy — grows in most aquariums without CO₂ and under ordinary lighting.

Delivery format

Delivered as a pot grown submerged, with the roots in rock wool. The pot holds several plants or stems that can be divided and planted separately.

Recommendation

An imposing solitaire or background plant in large aquariums, and one of the few really big leaf displays that copes with hard water. Give it space from the outset — the runners send up new rosettes a good way from the mother plant.