Hydrocotyle verticillata is a creeping plant hence should be kept in the foreground. It is also used as a carpet plant which resembles field of mushroom in the tank. The beginners guide will provide all the necessary information to grow this plant the right way
Overview of Hydrocotyle Verticillata Plant
| Common Name | This is commonly called whorled pennywort. It is also known as an umbrella plant. |
| Color | The leaves are green in color and round in shape. |
| Habitat/Origin | The habitat of this plant is marshes and shallow water. They are native to South America. |
| Average Size | They can grow to a height of 3 – 10 cm. The growth is maximum in intense light |
| Growth Rate | The growth rate of their plant is medium. However, it can be increased by adding CO2 and nutrients. |
| Placement | The aquarium live plant is a foreground plant. But this can also be used as a carpet plant in larger tanks. |
| Maintenance | An increase or decrease in added fertilizer like CO2 and nutrients can cause the plant to grow slow or very fast. So it is necessary to maintain the fertilizer level of the plant. In the case of high fertilizers, the leaves grow really big and the growth is very fast. So regular trimming is necessary. |
| Planting Methods | It can be planted in the substrate. The substrate should be made of sand with large grains for the roots to hold. |
| Ideal Setup | A substrate with larger gravel is required. High lighting is ideal for the plant. |
| Care Level | The care level of this plant is medium. |
| Supplements | Added CO2 and nutrients are not mandatory for this plant. But adding them will increase the growth rate. However, too much of these will result in very fast growth which will require additional maintenance of the plant. |
| Lighting | The plant can grow in moderate lighting. But for it to maintain its decorative low form, intense lighting should be provided. |
| Water temperature | The temperature of the water should be from 68 -80.5°F or 20 -27 °C. The pH can be from 5-7. |
| Propogation | Propagation can be done by cutting out the runners sent by the plant. The runners can be cut off and planted in another place. |
| Approx. Cost | The plant costs approximately $5 to $7 in the USA and in south east Asia, the plant costs 1/3 of the price in the USA. |
| Common Diseases | Not a disease as such, one of the most common problems with this plant is etiolation. That is, the plant has a stretched growth. This makes to lose the beauty of the plant. |
| What to look for when buying | Check if the leaves are round in shape before you buy |
| Related Specifies | Hydrocotyl leucocephala |
| FAQs | – |
Hydrocotyle Verticillata Plant gallery
References
- “Pennywort, Genus Hydrocotyle“. The Aquarium Gardener Series
- “Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Genus Hydrocotyle L.”