Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘red’
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘red’
QUICK NOTES:
Difficulty: Easy
Size: 10 – 30cm+ in height, 10 – 20cm in rosette width
Native Range: Southeast Asia (Sri Lanka)
Position and Usage: Any placement may be appropriate, although midground is common
Growth Rate: Moderate
Lighting: 1/5 – 3/5
Water Conditions: pH of 6 – 8, temperature of 75° to 82°F
CO2: Not required
Propagation: Runners
Special requirements: One of the easiest aquarium plants. Like all Crypts, high nitrate levels and stable water conditions are recommended as is a fertile substrate
Description
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Red', also known as Wendt’s Cryptocoryne, is a slow-growing, undemanding species well-suited to small and large aquariums. A dense, low-growing plant, C. wendtii is well-suited to midground placement and can be used to conceal the unsightly lower regions of your taller, stem-type plants. However, if positioned in groups and provided with high light, a rich substrate and CO2, C. wendtii 'Red' may grow taller. As such, solitary specimens may be most attractive in smaller tanks while bunches are more suitable for larger aquaria.
With regular pruning and nitrate-heavy fertilization, this plant will really thrive with even low lighting and no CO2. It may experience leaf die-off when first introduced to an aquarium but will acclimate well over time and the leaves will grow back from the underground stem. Leaf size, shape, and colour will depend greatly on your tank’s light intensity, making it a pleasantly versatile plant with a nice reddish brown color that makes it really stand out among green plants.
To manually propagate Cryptocorne wendtii 'Red', remove a small portion of the root with some attached stem and plant in the substrate. You can also pull apart a mature plant and plant the resulting pieces across the aquarium. It will naturally propagate itself in good conditions by sending out runners which produce new plants. This species is extremely hardy and its propagation simple, making it an excellent choice for experienced and beginner aquarists alike. It is a fantastic first aquarium plant because of its meager requirements and is by far the easiest "red" plant.
