Limnophila Aromatica

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Rice Paddy Herb; Ngo Om

Synonyms

Limnophila sp. 'Kalimantan Mini'

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Captive-bred variety

Habitat

Wild parent species grows emersed and semi-submerged in rice paddies, marshes, muddy canals and riverbanks across Southeast Asia; the 'Mini' form itself is a selected cultivar not documented in the wild

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Growth form

Stem

Max height

2 – 8 in (5.1 – 20 cm)

Spread

3 in (7.6 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Midground, Foreground

Water

Temperature

72 – 82 °F (22 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

dKH

2 – 8 dKH

PAR

40 – 80 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Required

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

High

Colors

Green, Pink, Red, Purple, Brown

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings

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Care guide

Overview

Stems typically reach several inches tall with serrated, lanceolate leaves arranged in whorls, ranging from olive and lime to pink, magenta and violet-red depending on light and nutrients. Bruised foliage gives off a citrus-herbal scent, a nod to its use as a culinary herb in Vietnam. It roots easily from cuttings and adapts to submerged or emersed growth.

Care

This dwarf stem plant holds a tight, compact whorled habit only under fairly strong light paired with pressurized CO2 and consistent nutrient dosing; without those inputs the internodes stretch and the foliage stays pale green rather than developing the coloration it is grown for. It tolerates a fairly broad temperature span but does best kept in the low-to-mid seventies to mid seventies Fahrenheit range, in soft, slightly acidic water. Regular trimming keeps the stems bushy and prevents the lower leaves from shading out and dropping.

Planting & trimming

Plant stems in small groups with a bit of space between each shoot to avoid self-shading, pushing the lower portion of the stem into the substrate. Once established, trim the tops regularly to encourage lateral branching and replant the cut tops to thicken the group. It also grows well emersed in paludariums or as a marginal plant, where the leaves turn coarser and medium green and release a citrus-herbal scent when bruised.

Fertilizing

Grow it in a nutrient-rich substrate supplemented with root tabs, and dose a complete liquid fertilizer that includes chelated iron and micronutrients on a regular schedule. Iron and potassium in particular drive the red and purple pigmentation in the upper leaves, so plants kept in lean water columns tend to stay olive-green. Pale new growth, stunted internodes, or a loss of color are typical signs the fertilizing routine needs to be stepped up.

Propagation

Propagate by cutting healthy stem tops once they have developed enough length, then replanting the cuttings directly into the substrate where they root readily. Side shoots that form after topping can also be separated and replanted to multiply a group quickly.

Problems

Poor lighting or inconsistent CO2 causes leggy, elongated growth with washed-out color, effectively losing the compact "mini" form the plant is prized for. Lower leaves can be shed if the plant is shaded by neighboring stems planted too densely, so spacing matters more than with many other stem plants. It is not particularly prone to melt when transitioning from emersed to submerged growth, though new tissue-cultured starts may shed some older emersed leaves during acclimation.

Sources

1. Limnophila aromatica "Mini" - Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
2. Limnophila aromatica · Mini Aquatic Plant Care | Atlarium
3. ADA Limnophila aromatica 'mini' – horizon aquatics
4. Limnophila aromatica Mini – Whitlyn Aquatics

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