Hygrophila corymbosa ‘Siamensis’ [TC]

Hygrophila corymbosa ‘Siamensis’ is a very robust aquarium plant and easy to cultivate. It is one of many varieties of Hygrophila corymbosa, a very variable species that is found in all of Southeast Asia. H. corymbosa ‘Siamensis’ can be kept in almost any aquarium except in too small tank.

H. corymbosa ‘Siamensis’ is a beautiful plant for the middle- to background of any aquarium. It is a fast grower, though, and needs to be cut back regularly. Propagation is easy – just cut off a shoot and replant it; if you cut off the top shoot you can control the growth of the plant, at least a bit, and induce ramification, as it will sprout even more lateral shoots. A terraced group of stems of different length is a very nice eyecatcher.

The 40 to 60 cm high plant is perfect for the background of the aquarium and tolerates soft to hard water. If Hygrophila corymbosa ‘Siamensis’ receives a lot of light and is well-fertilized in the aquarium, the shoot tips take on a pretty bronze colour. It is  grows even without CO2 fertilization, with CO2 it goes faster and the plants appear stronger. A good supply of nutrients promotes growth, and under medium to strong light the colours become prettier and the growth more compact.