Hygrophila Angustifolia

Overview: Native to Southeast Asia, Hygrophila angustifolia is a beautiful aquatic plant with a fast-growing habit. Due to stunning flowers that emerge from it and its easy to care nature, it is has gained popularity among the aquarists. Whether you are a beginner or an expert aquarist, growing Hygrophila angustifolia will be hassle-free and enjoyable. Since this plant attains good height and spread, under the right water conditions, growing it as a background plant will be the best decision. Also, you would require a medium or large size aquarium for it. Due to the great spread, it also provides shelter to fish and fry in the tank. Thus, Hygrophila angustifolia is great not only for enhancing the aesthetic but functionality of the tank too.  

Appearance: Hygrophila angustifolia has long and narrow leaves that grow from an upright stem. The soft green hues on the leaves add more beauty to it. The texture of the leaves is fine, swaying gently when the water moves. It gives a more natural look to the tank. Under favorable water conditions, Hygrophila angustifolia can attain 40 to 60 cm in height. Regular trimming will create bushier and compact growth. One can easily create a natural aquascape by adding it.

Hard/Soft Plant: Hygrophila angustifolia is a soft plant, as the leaves have a fine texture and are delicate. However, due to this feature, plant-eating fish often nibble on these leaves. Adding mechanical filters may cause damage to the leaves.

Ideal Water Temperature: The most suited water temperature for Hygrophila angustifolia is between 22°C to 28°C. Tropical temperature suits it the most and helps it to grow faster. Cooler water will stunt the growth.

Lighting Conditions: Offering moderate to high lighting will help Hygrophila angustifolia the most. It can tolerate low light conditions as well, but the color may fade, and growth may stunt. Therefore, it will be best to provide a bright setup as it will promote better growth and brighter coloration.

Ideal pH Level: The suitable pH range for Hygrophila angustifolia is between 6.5 and 7.5. While the plant can tolerate slight fluctuations, it will be better to ensure consistency in pH level for healthier growth.

Other Requirements: Nutrient rich substrate and additional carbon dioxide will help the plant to grow faster and attain bushier growth. However, carbon dioxide supplementation is not necessary. You can also add root tabs to make the substrate suitable for the plant’s growth. Since Hygrophila angustifolia spreads, regular trimming is necessary, or else it will shade the plants underneath.

Propagation: Hygrophila angustifolia can be propagated through stem cutting. All you need is to take a healthy stem that has nodes and replant it into the substrate. When the substrate is rich in nutrients and other water conditions are also favourable, new roots will emerge. Over time, dense clusters will form, and the plant will grow.

Do You Know: Hygrophila angustifolia is a beginner-friendly plant that absorbs excess nutrients and reduces excess algae. It is safe for all types of aquatic animals that you want to add to your tank.