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Cryptocoryne albida Brown

Cryptocoryne albida 'Brown'

Also known as Crypt albida Brown, Cryptocoryne costata

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Cryptocoryne albida Brown (Cryptocoryne albida 'Brown')
Buce Plant · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
70–82°F
21–28°C
Max height
7.9 in
20 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
6.0–7.8
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Southern Myanmar and Thailand

Overview

Cryptocoryne albida Brown is an easy, compact crypt for the front of the midground.

Did you know

The species name albida means whitish, yet the form hobbyists actually hunt for is the brown one. The mismatch is old, since the brown plants were long traded as a separate species, Cryptocoryne costata, before being folded into albida.

Caring for Cryptocoryne albida Brown

Plant Cryptocoryne albida Brown in a nutrient-rich substrate, with the roots buried and the crown just above the surface. Then leave it alone. Crypts resent being moved and can melt after replanting or a sharp swing in parameters.

It manages in quite low light, just very slowly, and needs no added CO2. Medium light speeds it up and strengthens the brown tones. It feeds through both roots and leaves, so root tabs and a liquid fertilizer both help. Keep it at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C) with a pH of 6 to 7.8.

It grows slowly to about 8 in (20 cm) and spreads by short runners into a slowly thickening group. Cut a runner plant free once it has roots, or divide the rhizome. If it melts, trim the melted leaves at the base and wait, because the roots almost always resprout.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne albida Brown is a water trumpet in the family Araceae, part of the Cryptocoryne crispatula group. Its leaves reach about 15 cm long and only 1 to 3 cm wide. They are red-brown with darker markings and waved edges.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne albida Brown is a brown-leaved color form selected from a naturally variable species, not a population collected on its own. The species grows in southern Myanmar and Thailand on sandy banks of streams and small rivers. It sits emersed on the margins in the dry season and submersed when the water rises.

Common questions

Does Cryptocoryne albida Brown need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Bury the roots and leave the crown, where the leaves join, just above the substrate.

Does Cryptocoryne albida Brown need CO2?

No. Cryptocoryne albida Brown grows well without added CO2 and suits a low-tech tank.

How much light does Cryptocoryne albida Brown need?

Cryptocoryne albida Brown is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.

Does Cryptocoryne albida Brown need root tabs?

They help. Cryptocoryne albida Brown takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Cryptocoryne albida Brown?

Cryptocoryne albida Brown propagates by runners and rhizome division. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Cryptocoryne albida Brown grow?

Cryptocoryne albida Brown grows to about 7.9 in (20 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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