TankBud

Cryptocoryne albida Red

Cryptocoryne albida 'Red'

Also known as Crypt albida Red

FreshwaterRosetteRunners

Cryptocoryne albida Red (Cryptocoryne albida 'Red')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
70–82°F
21–28°C
Max height
5.1 in
13 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Foreground
Type
Rosette
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root feeder
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Araceae
Origin
Southern Myanmar and Thailand

Overview

Cryptocoryne albida Red is a small crypt for the foreground or a nano midground. It is rated medium in difficulty.

Did you know

The depth of color in Cryptocoryne albida Red tracks light and nutrients closely. The same clone can sit brownish green in a dim tank and shift toward pink under stronger light. That is why photos of it online rarely look like the same plant.

Caring for Cryptocoryne albida Red

Bury the roots of Cryptocoryne albida Red in a nutrient-rich substrate and leave the crown just above it. Expect melt after planting, possibly heavier than the average crypt. Leave it in place to rebuild from the roots.

It survives low light, but it needs medium light and decent feeding for good color. It is a root feeder, so use root tabs or a rich substrate. Keep it at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C) with a pH of 6 to 7.5.

Retailers disagree about how demanding it is. Some rate it easy with CO2 optional, and others treat it as a CO2 plant. Plan for the cautious middle, with stable parameters and CO2 if you want color and reasonable speed.

It grows slowly and spreads slowly by runners. Cut a runner plant free once it has roots and plant it on its own.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne albida Red is a selection of Cryptocoryne albida in the family Araceae, part of the Cryptocoryne crispatula group. It was picked out for pink to red leaves with dark striping reminiscent of Cryptocoryne nurii. It is one of the smallest crypts in the trade, a low rosette of narrow leaves around 8 to 13 cm tall. The color is a cultivation selection, not a separate species or wild variety.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne albida Red is a red-pink color form known almost entirely from cultivation, and it circulates mostly as tissue culture. The parent species grows on sandy stream banks in southern Myanmar and Thailand. It sits emersed in the dry season and submersed when water levels rise.

Common questions

Does Cryptocoryne albida Red 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 Red need CO2?

No, but it helps. Cryptocoryne albida Red can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Cryptocoryne albida Red need?

Cryptocoryne albida Red wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Cryptocoryne albida Red need root tabs?

Yes. Cryptocoryne albida Red draws much of its food through its roots. Push root tabs in near it, or grow it in a nutrient-rich soil.

How do you propagate Cryptocoryne albida Red?

Cryptocoryne albida Red propagates by runners. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it.

How tall does Cryptocoryne albida Red grow?

Cryptocoryne albida Red grows to about 5.1 in (13 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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