Family Araceae. Malaysia is the homeland.
Other names for the plant include Cryptocoryne griffithii, or K. Griffith, and Cryptocoryne cordata (heart-shaped). It is widely used by people who enjoy aquariums. It appears as though different species are being grown from the forms of cryptocoryne that are cultivated under disparate conditions. Frequently, they are given distinct names.
Cryptocoryne grows up to 40 cm tall, extremely dense thickets in aquariums. The tops of the leaves range in color from light green to dark olive, while the bottoms are silvery white to purple. The plant should be positioned in the background, in the middle, and close to the aquarium’s side walls. It grows consistently throughout the year and is incredibly low maintenance.
The water temperature can fluctuate between 20 and 28 °C. Cryptocoryne can withstand temperatures down to 16 °C, but its growth stops at that point. The optimal temperature for growing it in an aquarium is 24-26 °C. Cryptocoryne has no particular requirements for water hardness, but it grows somewhat better in soft water (hardness is approximately 2-10°). In harder water, growth slows down somewhat, and the plant decreases in size. The active reaction of the water is preferably slightly acidic or neutral, in an alkaline environment the plant feels worse. Unlike many other species, purple cryptocoryne is almost not afraid of water changes and sheds leaves only under very unfavorable conditions. Prefers old water that has not been changed for a long time. When changing water, a short-term growth delay is observed.
Cryptocoryne can grow in deep shade and is very tolerant of lighting conditions. It is happy that the aquarium, which is two to three meters from the window, is getting natural light. The plant naturally stretches out and has a pale color in such lighting, but it can live in this state for a very long time.
You can use any type of light source in your home, including incandescent and fluorescent lamps like LB and LD, to create artificial lighting. While incandescent lamps have a power of roughly 1 W per liter of volume, fluorescent lamps have an optimal power of 0.3 to 0.4 W. Under ideal lighting circumstances, the plant appears extremely lovely. It is ideal for there to be at least ten hours of daylight.
For cryptocoryne, the soil needs to be well-silted and rich in nutrients. Since the plant grows a fairly robust root system that spreads over a wide area in any substrate, the type of substrate is irrelevant. It is best to use aquarium silt for feeding, and under the roots of the new soil you add clay or a clay and peat mixture. The soil layer ought to be seven centimeters thick.
Mineral feeding has a major impact on cryptocoryne growth. Microelements and nitrogen require special attention. The density of the plants in the aquarium determines how much fertilizer is needed. Fish food supplies ample nutrients for up to twelve plants in a standard aquarium.
Basal cuttings are a very simple way to propagate cryptocoryne, as they form in large quantities close to the mother plant. Once the daughter plants have produced two or three leaves, they can be pulled from the thicket and planted elsewhere.
A humid greenhouse promotes slightly faster growth for cryptocoryne. As new leaves appear, the water level can be gradually lowered to allow the plant to transition to an air environment. When conditions are right, cryptocoryne grows and blooms quickly. The petioles of the leaves get denser and shorter, but the overall shape of the leaves stays the same as in the aquarium. It is possible to transplant a plant from the paludarium into an aquarium without it needing any prior adaptation.
- Category of the entry: Aquarium plants from A to Z / Plants for the aquarium – K
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