Care guide · Freshwater · plants

Green wendtii crypt

Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green'

Photo: Tommy Kronkvist · Source · CC BY 3.0Resized and compressed; no cropping or colour changes.

Green wendtii crypt (Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green') forms a rosette of green leaves emerging from a central base. It provides a settled lower layer in a planted aquarium and needs less trimming than fast stems. Give it a permanent position: old leaves may melt after transplanting while healthy roots later produce new growth. This is not a reason to immediately pull out every root or add treatments. Final shape depends on light, space and growing conditions. In an open position the leaves may spread widely and stay low, so allow space around the rosette as well as above it.

Plan your aquarium →

At a glance

Difficulty: Easy
Plant height: 10–30 cm
Growth rate: Moderate
Placement: Foreground, Midground
Temperature: 20–28 °C
pH: 5.0–8.0
Light: Low, Moderate
CO₂: Optional
Nutrient uptake: Through roots and water
Substrate: Sand, Gravel, Aquasoil
Propagation: Runners

About this plant

'Green' is a named green aquarium form of Cryptocoryne wendtii, not a separate wild species. Other wendtii forms may be browner or narrower. Some variation in leaf shape and colour is normal. This is a rooted rosette, planted in the substrate rather than attached like an exposed Anubias rhizome. Protect the central growing point during planting.

Natural habitat

Cryptocoryne wendtii comes from Sri Lanka. The cultivated form retains the adaptability of a waterside and aquatic plant. Leaves grown above water may not immediately suit permanent submerged growth. Changes after purchase therefore do not reflect aquarium quality alone. A stable transition, an undisturbed root zone and time matter more than recreating an unknown collection site.

Placement in the aquarium

Use 20–28 °C and pH 5–8 as broad cultivation guidance. Leaf height commonly falls within 10–30 cm, depending on position and growth. Choose foreground or midground according to tank size. Gently insert the roots and keep the rosette base at the substrate surface. Prevent neighbours from immediately shading it. Avoid repeatedly moving an established, healthy plant.

Light

Low to moderate light can suffice; growers differ on the optimum intensity. Stronger light may produce a more compact shape but also increases the importance of carbon and nutrients. Weak light combined with deep shade can delay recovery. Provide even illumination and inspect new leaves. Starting with 6 hours, possibly later 8 hours, is general management rather than a species measurement. No substantiated PAR range is available.

CO₂

CO₂ is optional. The plant can be maintained without injection, although an existing stable supply may support growth. A grower’s higher CO₂ recommendation does not mean every aquarium requires equipment. Match lighting to your chosen approach. Following leaf loss, extra CO₂ is not the first diagnosis or treatment: check the roots and base and allow regrowth.

Nutrition and fertilisation

Its developed roots make substrate nutrition relevant, while nutrients in the water also contribute to the aquarium. Consider macronutrients and trace elements without treating iron as a universal remedy for pale leaves. Targeted root feeding may help in old, nutrient-poor sand or gravel. A rich substrate does not automatically need another full dose. Check composition and instructions.

Substrate and root feeding

Use a substrate that supports root development and anchors the rosette. A nutrient layer beneath a suitable cap is an option, not a requirement. Aquasoil may alter water chemistry and must also suit the fish. Remove excess growing material rather than packing it around the base. Keep the growing point clear and avoid repeatedly disturbing the ground beside established roots.

Growth and pruning

Growth is usually moderate. Remove badly damaged leaves at the base without pulling young stalks. If leaves become translucent or soft after a change, remove loose debris but assess the root zone separately: a healthy base can recover. Do not trim the whole rosette across the leaf tips like grass. Give daughter plants space or thin them selectively.

Propagation

Runners produce daughter rosettes. Allow a young plant to develop roots and adequate leaves before separating it. Avoid pulling hard on a runner extending through the substrate; expose the connection gently and cut if necessary. Replant in a sheltered position. Let a weakened specimen recover before dividing it merely to increase numbers.

Suitable fish and animals

Small peaceful fish find shelter between rosettes while retaining swimming space above. Bottom dwellers still need open feeding and resting areas. Diggers may uproot new plants and large herbivores may damage leaves. Dense planting does not replace species-appropriate habitat. Central links consider water conditions and space, without implying that all linked fish form a safe community together.

Possible problems

Melting after relocation is a familiar concern, but not every brown leaf has the same cause. Check sudden changes, buried growing points, injured roots and competition for light. Remove decaying leaves while retaining healthy parts. Persistent poor recovery calls for a broader assessment of nutrients and water management. Repeated moves between shade and bright light force further adaptation.