Hygrophila Pinnatifida

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Hygro pinnatifida

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

India (Western Ghats: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu)

Habitat

Grows on rocks along streams and rivers in the Western Ghats, emersed during monsoon and submersed in flowing water the rest of the year

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Growth form

Stem

Max height

4 – 12 in (10 – 30 cm)

Spread

10 in (25 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Midground, Epiphyte

Water

Temperature

64 – 82 °F (18 – 28 °C)

pH

5.5 – 8.0

GH

2 – 15 dGH

Flow

Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Any

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Brown, Red, Green, Purple

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings, Runners, Plantlets

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Care guide

Overview

Stems reach roughly 4 to 12 inches, spreading along hardscape through creeping runners rather than growing tall and upright. Leaf color shifts between brown, purple, red and green depending on light and nutrient levels, with iron dosing deepening the reddish undersides. Regular tip pinching keeps the mat dense instead of leggy.

Care

This UK locality form of Hygrophila pinnatifida shows deeper leaf lobing and more intense red-burgundy tones than the standard form. It grows well either rooted lightly in substrate or tied to rock and wood, where its creeping runners pin themselves to the hardscape over time. Medium to high light with CO2 injection keeps growth compact and colorful; in low light it stretches out, turns greener, and becomes leggy. Regular tip pinching encourages side shoots and produces the dense, textured mats the plant is grown for.

Planting & trimming

Attach runners or crowns to rock or driftwood with thread, cotton, or a dab of cyanoacrylate glue, or plant lightly in substrate since the root system stays shallow and small. Because it climbs steadily toward the surface, trim stems before they break through the waterline to avoid emersed flowering and leggy growth. Pinching the growing tips regularly forces side shoots and builds the dense, patchwork look the plant is prized for.

Fertilizing

Consistent macro- and micronutrient dosing supports steady coloration and compact growth, since this plant draws nutrients through both its roots and the water column. Potassium deficiency shows up as small, needle-prick-like holes in older leaves, so root tabs or a balanced liquid fertilizer with adequate potassium is worth maintaining. Iron supplementation can help intensify the reddish underside coloring in higher-light setups.

Propagation

Propagation is easiest from the runner-like lateral shoots and the plantlets they set along hardscape, which root readily once separated. Top cuttings from upright stems are less reliable and tend to establish poorly compared with runner sections. Once a mat is established, sections can simply be cut away and reattached elsewhere on rock or wood.

Problems

Emersed nursery-grown stock frequently melts after submersion, so sourcing already-submersed cuttings avoids the difficult conversion period. Potassium deficiency is the most commonly reported issue, producing small perforations in older leaves rather than the more typical yellowing seen in other deficiencies. If left unpruned near the surface, growth can become sparse and leggy as the plant races upward instead of branching out.

Sources

1. Hygrophila pinnatifida UK care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
2. How to grow Hygrophila pinnatifida – The 2Hr Aquarist
3. Hygrophila pinnatifida - Tropica Aquarium Plants
4. Hygrophila pinnatifida - Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database

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