TankBud

Cryptocoryne petchii

Cryptocoryne beckettii 'Petchii'

Also known as Crypt Petchii, Cryptocoryne beckettii var. petchii, Cryptocoryne x beckettii-petchii

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
5.9 in
15 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
4–18 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root feeder
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Sri Lanka (Cryptocoryne beckettii is endemic to Sri Lanka)

Overview

Cryptocoryne petchii is a compact crypt for the midground that stays smaller than most wendtii forms. It is undemanding and easy to keep.

Did you know

The same Cryptocoryne petchii plant can look bright green or coppery brown in the same tank. Higher light pushes red-brown pigment while shaded leaves stay green, so a single clump often shows two colors at once.

Caring for Cryptocoryne petchii

Plant Cryptocoryne petchii with the roots buried and the crown just above the surface, then avoid moving it around. Expect the usual crypt melt after planting or a big parameter change. Full recovery follows once conditions stabilize.

It is a low-light plant and needs no CO2. It is a root feeder, so push root tabs into the substrate near it. It suits 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6 to 7.5.

It grows at a moderate pace and forms tidy clusters over time. It spreads by runners, and a clump can be divided at the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne petchii goes under the accepted parent name Cryptocoryne beckettii Thwaites ex Trimen, in the arum family Araceae. Petchii is treated as a small brown-green form or hybrid within this complex, with ruffled leaves. Cryptocoryne beckettii is one of the Sri Lankan species long confused with Cryptocoryne wendtii, which shares its island range and similar leaf forms.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne beckettii, the parent of petchii, is endemic to the shaded streams and riverbanks of Sri Lanka. It grows there in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water among leaf litter and roots. Like other crypts, it lives submersed or emersed on damp margins depending on the season.

Common questions

Does Cryptocoryne petchii 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 petchii need CO2?

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

How much light does Cryptocoryne petchii need?

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

Does Cryptocoryne petchii need root tabs?

Yes. Cryptocoryne petchii 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 petchii?

Cryptocoryne petchii 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 petchii grow?

Cryptocoryne petchii grows to about 5.9 in (15 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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