Cryptocoryne wendtii

Quick facts

Max height

25 cm

Growth rate

slow

Difficulty

beginner

Placement

midground

Propagation

runners

Water parameters

Temperature

20–28°C

pH

6.0 to 7.5

Hardness

2 to 18 dGH

Light and nutrients

Lighting

low

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, found in slow-moving streams and river margins across the island. The species (Cryptocoryne wendtii) is the single most commonly sold and widely grown Cryptocoryne in the aquarium hobby worldwide. Multiple named color varieties are commercially available: 'Green' (bright olive-green leaves), 'Brown' (dark brown-green), 'Red' (reddish-brown), 'Tropica' (dark bronze with ruffled margins), 'Mi Oya' (named for a specific Sri Lankan river, with reddish-bronze coloring), and 'Flamingo' (a pink tissue-culture mutation). Leaf shape is broadly lanceolate, 10–20 cm long, with slightly wavy margins and a hammered or dimpled surface texture. The species exhibits substantial phenotypic plasticity: the same plant can look quite different depending on light, nutrients, and water chemistry, which has contributed to taxonomic confusion and the proliferation of trade names.

Care notes

The easiest Cryptocoryne and one of the most reliable aquarium plants for any skill level. Grows in virtually any conditions: low to high light, no CO2, hard or soft water, pH 6.0-8.0, temperature 20–30°C. Under low light, all varieties trend toward green; under moderate to high light, the distinctive varietal colors emerge more strongly. Root tabs or nutrient-rich substrate recommended for best color and growth, but the plant grows acceptably in plain gravel with minimal care. Growth rate is moderate, producing roughly one new leaf per week once established. Crypt melt is possible during acclimation but C. wendtii is one of the most recovery-reliable species in the genus, regaining its leaves within 2-4 weeks of melting. Propagation by runners; C. wendtii is among the most prolific runner-producers in the genus, often colonizing a 20–30 cm area within a few months from a small starter group. Trim and relocate daughter plants that grow outside the intended planting zone. Compatible with all fish; the tough, slightly leathery leaves resist damage from most herbivores. This is the plant to start with if you've never kept Cryptocorynes. The color varieties (Green, Brown, Red, Tropica) allow beginners to experiment with different looks within a single easy species.

Further reading

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