Cryptocoryne hudoroi

Also known as Crypt hudoroi

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Care at a glance

Light: Low light
CO2: CO₂ beneficial
Temperature: 64–86°F; 18–30°C
Max height: 19.7 in; 50 cm

Growth rate: Medium
Placement: Midground
Type: Rosette
pH: 5.0–7.5
Hardness: 2–12 dGH
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Medium
Family: Araceae
Origin: Borneo (South Kalimantan, Indonesia)

Overview

Cryptocoryne hudoroi is a large, puckered-leaf crypt for the midground or background. It is a plant of medium difficulty.

Did you know

Most Borneo crypts are soft-water swamp plants, but Cryptocoryne hudoroi comes from limestone country and is forgiving of carbonate hardness. That makes it one of the easier rare crypts to place in ordinary tap water.

Caring for Cryptocoryne hudoroi

Plant Cryptocoryne hudoroi in a nutritious substrate in the midground or background. It can reach 20 to 50 cm, so give it room. Expect the usual crypt melt after planting or big parameter swings, and leave the roots undisturbed while it re-establishes.

Low light is enough for it. It grows without injected CO2, but CO2 helps the heavily puckered leaves grow out full sized. It takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves, so use root tabs along with a liquid fertilizer.

Reflect its river origin with good flow and clean water. Unlike the blackwater crypts, it takes moderately hard water in stride. It handles 64 to 86°F (18 to 30°C) and a pH of 5 to 7.5.

It grows at a moderate pace and spreads by runners. A mature rhizome can be divided into pieces with several leaves each.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne hudoroi is an aroid described by Bogner and Jacobsen in 1985. It is reportedly named after Hudoro, the Indonesian plant enthusiast who brought it to botanists' attention. It belongs to the bullate Borneo crypts around Cryptocoryne bullosa, and its narrow oval leaves are strongly puckered, as if hammered from below. It was imported for the hobby in the 1990s and has stayed uncommon ever since.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne hudoroi comes from the south of Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. It grows in rapidly flowing rivers, forming dense submersed stands in the current. That is an unusually aquatic life for a crypt, though like its relatives it can also grow emersed on the banks.

Common questions

Does Cryptocoryne hudoroi 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 hudoroi need CO2?

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

How much light does Cryptocoryne hudoroi need?

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

Does Cryptocoryne hudoroi need root tabs?

They help. Cryptocoryne hudoroi 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 hudoroi?

Cryptocoryne hudoroi 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.