Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia

Quick facts

Max height

30 cm

Growth rate

slow

Difficulty

beginner

Placement

midground, background

Propagation

runners

Water parameters

Temperature

22–30°C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Hardness

2 to 15 dGH

Light and nutrients

Lighting

low

CO2

not required, but boosts growth and color

Substrate

nutrient preferred

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

tolerates fish that disturb roots

Habitat

Native to Sumatra, Indonesia, where it grows in slow-moving streams, river margins, and flooded forest areas in lowland tropical forest. The species (Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia) produces broad, heart-shaped to oval leaves on tall, sturdy petioles that give the plant a distinctive upright posture. The species name references the resemblance to the unrelated aquatic plant Pontederia (pickerelweed). Leaves are 8–12 cm long and 3–5 cm wide, pale green to olive, with smooth margins. The broad leaf shape and upright growth habit set it apart visually from the narrow-leaved Cryptocorynes common in the trade. A medium-sized species reaching 15–25 cm tall, suitable for midground placement in tanks of 60 L. Less commonly stocked than C. wendtii or C. beckettii but available from specialty aquatic plant suppliers and tissue culture producers.

Care notes

Easy to moderate care, similar to other forgiving Cryptocorynes. Thrives in low to moderate light with no CO2 injection required. pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard water. Plant with roots buried in substrate and the root crown at surface level; root tabs or nutrient-rich substrate supports best development. The broad leaves distinguish this species from the narrow-leaved Cryptocorynes that dominate the trade, making it useful for visual contrast in mixed Cryptocoryne plantings or alongside fine-textured stem plants and mosses. Growth rate is moderate: one new leaf every 1-2 weeks once the plant is established and comfortable. The broad leaf surfaces can attract green spot algae or diatoms under high light without CO2; keeping light moderate prevents this issue. Susceptible to crypt melt during transition to a new tank, as with all Cryptocorynes; leave roots in place and wait for recovery. Propagation by runners, with daughter plants forming 5–10 cm from the parent over several months. A group of 3-5 plants creates a lush, tropical-looking cluster in the midground. The broad, soft leaves make good egg-deposition surfaces for small cichlids and provide shelter for bottom-dwelling fish, shrimp, and fry. Temperature: 22–28°C.

Further reading

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