Aponogeton crispus

Quick facts

Max height

50 cm

Growth rate

fast

Difficulty

beginner

Placement

background

Propagation

seeds

Water parameters

Temperature

22–28°C

pH

6.0 to 7.5

Hardness

2 to 15 dGH

Light and nutrients

Lighting

medium

CO2

not required, but boosts growth and color

Substrate

nutrient rich

Feeding

feeds from both water column and roots (liquid ferts plus root tabs)

Substrate

What this plant roots into (or attaches to). The substrate affects both plant nutrition and water chemistry; see each linked page for full effects.

This plant feeds primarily from the water column, so substrate choice matters more for its fish-tank compatibility than for plant nutrition.

With fish

Plant-eating fish

safe with plant-eating fish (tough leaves or unpalatable)

Diggers (corydoras, loaches)

may get uprooted by active diggers

Root-disturbing fish

sensitive to root disturbance, plant where roots stay undisturbed

Habitat

Native to Sri Lanka, where it grows in slow-moving streams, ponds, and shallow lake margins. The species produces a bulb (corm) from which long, wavy-edged leaves (hence 'crispus') grow in a rosette. Leaves are translucent, light green, and distinctively ruffled along the margins, giving the plant an elegant, flowing appearance in current. Adults can reach 30–50 cm in height. Aponogeton crispus was one of the earliest Aponogetons in the aquarium trade and remains one of the most forgiving species in the genus. The plant goes through a natural dormancy cycle: after months of active growth, it may die back to the bulb and rest for 4-8 weeks before producing new leaves.

Care notes

Grows from a bulb planted halfway into the substrate (the top half of the bulb should be visible above the gravel). In pet stores, the bulbs are often sold dry in packets labeled 'aquarium plant bulbs.' These dry bulbs are hit-or-miss; many are dead or fungused. Better results come from buying actively growing specimens. Moderate light and no CO2 produces good results. The ruffled leaves are attractive in gentle current, where they wave with the water movement. Root tabs improve growth since the plant feeds heavily through its root system and the bulb. Dormancy is normal and not a sign of problems: after 6-12 months of growth, the plant may shed all its leaves and the bulb sits apparently dead for weeks before regrowing. Don't throw it away during dormancy. Some keepers remove the bulb during dormancy and store it in a damp paper towel in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks, then replant; others leave it in the tank and let it rest in place. Propagation is by daughter bulbs that form at the base of the parent, or by seed if the plant produces a flower spike above the water surface. Growth rate is moderate to fast; a healthy specimen produces a new leaf every 3-5 days. The plant occasionally produces a flower spike that rises above the water surface; the flowers are small and white. If two plants flower simultaneously, cross-pollination can produce viable seed. Aponogeton crispus is one of the most forgiving species in the genus, tolerating conditions that would kill more demanding Aponogetons like A. madagascariensis (lace plant).

Further reading

• How to cycle a fish tank
• Water chemistry for fishkeepers: pH, GH, KH, and what they mean