Beautiful aquatic plants like Hygrophila aragvaya can instantly improve the appearance of any aquarium. This plant adds a touch of elegance to underwater scenes with its vivid green foliage and eye-catching geometric shape. Aquarists love it for the structure and balance it provides with its vivid leaves and straight growth habit.
There’s more to this plant than meets the eye. Hygrophila aragvaya is a great choice for both novice and seasoned hobbyists because it is also comparatively easy to maintain. It can grow in a variety of water conditions and with moderate lighting, so it can be placed in a variety of aquarium configurations. Fish can easily hide among its sturdy stems and dense leaf clusters, which creates a safe and natural habitat.
Hygrophila aragvaya is an excellent choice if you want to add a plant that grows beautifully with little maintenance or if you want to make a focal point in your aquarium. Its luxuriant look and laid-back disposition make it an instant favorite in any aquascape. Explore the world of this plant to see how it can turn your aquarium into an aquatic paradise that is colorful, well-maintained, and visually stunning.
The striking aquarium plant Hygrophila araguaia is prized for its vivid green leaves and compact, bushy growth, which give any aquatic environment a lush, structured appearance. For both novice and expert aquarists, this plant is ideal because it is low maintenance, adaptable to various water conditions, and thrives with regular trimming. Hygrophila araguaia’s distinct geometric appearance can be used to create striking foregrounds or midground accents, adding to the aquarium’s aesthetic appeal and giving fish and shrimp a natural habitat.
- Distribution
- Growing and care
- Water parameters for ideal maintenance
- Lighting requirements
- Requirements for soil, nutrient substrate
- Demanding to fertilizers
- Reproduction
- Variations and forms of the plant
- Video on the topic
- Hygrophila variegatus / Hygrophila variegatus
- HYGROPHILA TIGER. MAINTENANCE AND REPRODUCTION. Hygrophila sp. Tiger
- HYGROPHILA Crinkled (Hygrophila Crinkled)
Distribution
The Araguaia River in South America is honored by the name of the plant. This is a factual error, though. According to scientific literature, this hygrophila grows in Southeast Asia in the reservoirs of Japan and Hong Kong. Despite this, aquarists continue to use the incorrect name.
Growing and care
Hygrophila aragvaya is rarely grown in a small aquarium due to its size. Paludariums and large vessels are better suited for it.
Regular pruning from above makes the bush look much lusher and more impressive. Since it cannot grow on stones or driftwood, it is planted in the ground when decorating an aquarium.
Hygrophila lancea finds it challenging to adjust to new surroundings. But if the plant is happy with the water’s condition, the amount of light it receives, and the nutrients it receives, the owner will eventually notice light purple blossoms in the leaf axils.
Water parameters for ideal maintenance
The plant will thrive in tropical aquariums because it is primarily grown in Asia. The following requirements should be met by the water in them:
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temperature – 18-30ºС, the optimal value is 23-26ºС;
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acidity – 4-7, recommended 6.5-7;
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hardness — 0-15º, the plant will feel comfortable at 4-7º.
Weekly water changes should be made up of one-fifth of the aquarium’s total volume.
Lighting requirements
The plant’s color varies with the amount of light it receives. The leaves’ color contrast increases with the strength of the light flux. Hygrophila grown in a paludarium will have a brownish-green color. For Hygrophila sp. "Araguaia," bright lighting is necessary. It is recommended that the lamps you select have a brightness of at least 70 lm/l, preferably 100 lm/l.
It is best to plant hygrophila araguaia in an area that is not shaded. If not, its leaves will start to wither away. Enough open space must be arranged around the bush in order for it to grow lush and gorgeous. Hygrophila growth rate is directly correlated with light levels.
Requirements for soil, nutrient substrate
It is essential to use nutrient soil with gravel-sized granules when cultivating Hygrophila aragvaya. It assists in maintaining the water’s acidity and lowering its hardness level. The fact that beneficial bacteria thrive in such soil is an additional benefit. A fair amount of silt will also be beneficial.
Considerations regarding laterite-based compositions should be made when selecting a nutrient substrate or soil. They have a high iron content. This is particularly crucial to preserving the leaves’ vivid red hue. Peat is another desirable component of the composition.
Certain brands of soil are appropriate for aquariums containing Hygrophila sp. «Araguaia»:
- Seachem Fluorite. It uses fine porous gravel. It is recommended to wash it before placing it in the aquarium, since it may contain a lot of dust.
- JBL Manado. Nutritious laterite soil of red-brown color. It promotes the growth of aquarium plants and prevents the development of algae.
Demanding to fertilizers
Hygrophila aragvaya obtains the majority of its nutrients from its roots, which makes it a relatively robust root system. TetraPlanta Start tablets are an option if you need to give the bush extra microelements and hasten its growth.
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If you only need iron, manganese, potassium and other microelements, TetraPlanta Crypto tablets are suitable.
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For good development of hygrophila, CO2 supply is mandatory. The minimum amount of carbon dioxide is 10-15 mg / l.
Reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is used by Hygrophila aragvaya. The plant’s stem has three to four leaf whorls on each section. The cuttings are deposited in the ground once the root system has emerged, after which they are allowed to float on the surface.
The hygrophila has sections on its stem. There should be at least five or six leaf pairs on each. For improved fixation, it is advised to submerge the lower pair in the ground when planting.
Variations and forms of the plant
One of the plant’s recently discovered forms, brought about by mutation, was discovered in Singapore. It was given the name Hygrophila sp. Chai and is currently hard to find. This plant needs a strong light source and a CO2 supply. Its pink hue and infrequently occurring white stripes set it apart.
Aquarists also like other members of the hygrophilous family, such as:
- Willow-leaved. Grows in shallow water and in marshy areas of Southeast Asia. It reaches a height of up to 30 cm. There are specimens with jagged edges of the leaves. It is distinguished by a bright green color, which is replaced by light shades towards the bottom. Does not require strong lighting – up to 50 lm/l.
- Polyspermous. Well suited for beginners. The leaves of this plant have an oval shape. Initially, the color of the bush is light green, but in bright light it changes to red.
- Pinnatifida. It is optimal to grow in herbal gardens, since this representative of hygrophila grows slowly. Has a weak root system. The color of the bush can vary from green to red-burgundy.
- Lemongrass corymbosa. Another name for this popular ornamental plant is thyroid. In aquarium design, it is used to decorate the background. The leaves are light green, on the reverse side they have a beautiful silvery shade. The shape of the leaf is close to oval.
- Marbled rosanervig. It was obtained as a result of selection and is one of the forms of polyspermous hygrophila. This variation is distinguished by a bright pink color, as well as more contrasting veins.
- Balsamica. Externally resembles a Christmas tree. Requires mandatory supply of carbon dioxide and bright lighting, in good conditions actively reproduces. The leaves have a bright green color.
- Sinema. It is well suited for a paludarium, since in its natural environment it grows in swampy areas. If the plant is in water, its leaves change their shape during growth, eventually dividing into segments. When located above water, the leaves remain intact, with smooth edges.
Characteristic | Description |
Appearance | A lush plant with bright green leaves, forming a symmetrical shape |
Growth rate | Moderate to fast, depending on light and nutrients |
Light requirements | Prefers medium to high light levels |
Water conditions | Thrives in soft to moderately hard water, with a temperature of 22-28°C |
Care level | Easy to care for, suitable for beginners |
Placement | Best suited for the background or middle ground of the aquarium |
The unique aquatic plant Hygrophila araguaia enhances the visual appeal of any aquarium with its precise, geometric leaf arrangement and lush, compact growth. Its vivid green to reddish tones produce an organic focal point that improves the overall appearance of your aquatic setting. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this plant is also a fantastic choice for aquascaping, giving your tank a well-balanced and structured appearance.
Hygrophila araguaia is a gorgeous plant that requires little maintenance, which makes it ideal for both novice and expert aquarists. It grows well in moderate light and needs a steady supply of nutrients—especially iron—to keep its brilliant color. It will grow more densely with regular pruning, giving it a healthy, well-groomed appearance.
Hygrophila araguaia can add aesthetic appeal to your aquarium as well as practical advantages like giving fish shade and cover. Hygrophila araguaia is a great option if you want to add color and life to your tank without having to worry about maintaining a carefully planned aquascape. It’s a great addition to any aquatic setup because of its versatility and ease of care.