TankBud

One species · 4 forms

Cryptocoryne spiralis

Also known as Spiralis crypt, Cryptocoryne spiralis var. spiralis, Indian crypt

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Cryptocoryne spiralis (Cryptocoryne spiralis)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
13.8 in
35 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
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
India

Pick a form

One setup covers every form on this page.

Overview

Cryptocoryne spiralis is a grassy, narrow-leaved crypt for the background or midground. It is genuinely undemanding.

Did you know

In Indian rice paddies, Cryptocoryne spiralis is considered a nuisance weed. The same vigor that frustrates farmers makes it one of the easier, faster-spreading crypts in an aquarium.

Caring for Cryptocoryne spiralis

Plant Cryptocoryne spiralis in the background, with the roots buried and the crown just above the surface. Once settled, it throws out runners freely, so a single plant becomes a clump. Keep the flow gentle, since strong current can tatter the thin leaves.

Low light is fine, and it needs no CO2. It is a root feeder, so a rich substrate pays off. It suits 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6 to 7.5.

It grows at a moderate pace. To thin a stand, cut new plants free from the runners or divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each. Unwanted plants pull up cleanly.

Instead of the low rosette most crypts make, spiralis sends up long, twisted strap leaves and spreads by runners under the substrate. It fills a background the same way vallisneria does, just more slowly and with the crypt family's tolerance for low light and hard water.

Expect the usual transplant melt when it goes into a new tank: leaves dissolve, roots live, and fresh growth suited to your water follows. Feed the substrate with root tabs and leave the crowns alone; established stands shrug off changes that flatten fussier plants.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne spiralis is one of the few crypts native to mainland India rather than Sri Lanka or Southeast Asia. It has several varieties, such as var. caudigera, and it is also sold as Indian crypt. It belongs to the family Araceae and can reproduce sexually by spathe, though in the hobby it multiplies mostly by abundant runners.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne spiralis is native to southern India and Bangladesh. It grows on riverbanks, in temporarily flooded wetlands and in rice paddies. It alternates between submersed and emersed growth as seasonal water levels rise and fall.

Common questions

How tall does spiralis get?

Most forms reach 25 to 40 cm, which is background height in all but the largest tanks. The leaves arch over at the surface rather than stopping.

Does it spread?

Yes, steadily, by runners. A few crowns become a stand over a season; it stays manageable and pulls up cleanly where you do not want it.

Does Cryptocoryne spiralis 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 spiralis need CO2?

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

How much light does Cryptocoryne spiralis need?

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

Does Cryptocoryne spiralis need root tabs?

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

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