Cryptocoryne usteriana
Cryptocoryne usteriana
Also known as Giant hammered crypt, Hammered bronze crypt, Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia (often confused)
Care at a glance
- Light
- Low light
- CO2
- CO₂ beneficial
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Background
- Type
- Rosette
- Temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hardness
- 4–20 dGH
- Max height
- 19.7 in (50 cm)
- Spread
- 11.8 in (30 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root feeder
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Origin
- Guimaras Island, Philippines
- Family
- Araceae
Overview
A giant background crypt for low to high light with no need for CO2, though both CO2 and stronger light intensify colour and texture. It is a heavy root feeder, so plant it in deep nutrient substrate with root tabs and give it room, as it can exceed 50 cm. Its tolerance of hard, alkaline water makes it one of the few good plant choices for Tanganyika or Malawi-style hardwater tanks, where it is also robust enough to resist most cichlids. Like all crypts it may melt after planting before regrowing from the rhizome, and it spreads slowly by long runners.
In the wild
Cryptocoryne usteriana is native to rivers on the Philippine island of Guimaras, where it grows mostly submersed in flowing, often hard and alkaline water. It is one of the largest species in the genus, sending up long strap-like leaves with a deeply embossed, hammered surface that is dark green to bronze on top and burgundy red beneath. A single well-grown plant can fill a 30 cm stretch of background.
Good to know
Described as Cryptocoryne usteriana Engl. It is notable among crypts for thriving in hard, alkaline water, which is unusual for a genus mostly tied to soft acidic streams. Plants sold under this name are frequently confused with the equally large Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia, and the two are hard to distinguish without flowering the hooded spathe.
Did you know
Did you know usteriana is one of the very few aquarium crypts that actually prefers liquid-rock conditions? While most Cryptocoryne want soft acidic water, this one comes from hard alkaline Philippine rivers and is happily grown in African cichlid tanks.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Glass Aqua Aquascaping plants and planted tank supplies
- Buce Plant Aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies
- Aquarium Plants Factory Aquatic plants shipped from a California greenhouse
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Low-light plants · Background plants · Cryptocoryne · Beginner plants
Growing Cryptocoryne usteriana?
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