About the species

Hygrophila corymbosa 'Stricta' from Thailand is one of the hobby's hardiest and most widely used background plants. The stems reach 15–40 centimetres tall and 10–15 centimetres wide, with large, light green leaves set closely together. In an open aquarium it happily climbs out of the water, where the leaves turn blue-green and it produces small blue flowers.

Facts

• Latin name: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Stricta'
• Plant type: Stem plant
• Origin: Asia
• Height: 15–30 cm
• Growth rate: Fast
• 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

Split the bunch and set the stems one by one, about two centimetres into the substrate and two to three centimetres apart. Removing the lowest leaves first stops them rotting in the substrate. A group of five to ten stems looks far better straight away than single plants.

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

Care & propagation

Top the plant when it reaches the height you want and replant the cuttings — that propagates it and gives a denser group at the same time. Trim regularly so light reaches the lower leaves, and discard the old lower sections once they start thinning out.

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

A classic starter plant: it grows quickly, takes up plenty of nutrients and so keeps algae in check in a new aquarium. Reckon on pinching the top shoots often, otherwise it reaches the surface and shades everything below.