Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea

Cryptocoryne walkeri 'Lutea'

Also known as Cryptocoryne lutea, Crypt lutea, Cryptocoryne walkeri var. lutea

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea (Cryptocoryne walkeri 'Lutea') — Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light: Low light
CO2: CO₂ beneficial
Temperature: 68–82°F; 20–28°C
Max height: 5.9 in; 15 cm

Growth rate: Slow
Placement: Midground
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: Easy
Family: Araceae
Origin: Sri Lanka

Overview

Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea is one of the unfussy starter crypts. Compared with typical walkeri, it is a compact green form with somewhat narrower blades on brownish stems.

Did you know

Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea is named for a color, since lutea means yellow. The name refers to the yellowish cast of its spathe and fresh growth.

Caring for Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea

Plant Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea in the midground in a nutrient-rich substrate, and feed the roots with tabs. Then leave it alone, because like most crypts it hates being moved.

Low light is enough, and CO2 is optional. More light and CO2 both speed up an otherwise slow plant. It handles water from 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 6 to 7.5.

It creeps outward on short runners into a tidy clump that is easy to split and replant. It may melt after planting or after a big parameter swing. Melt looks terminal but rarely is, since the rhizome and roots usually survive the collapse. A melted plant left in place typically regrows a full set of submersed leaves within a few weeks.

Good to know

Lutea entered the books as a species of its own, Cryptocoryne lutea Alston. It was later sunk into Cryptocoryne walkeri Schott, in the family Araceae, but the trade never let the old name go.

In the wild

The plant behind this trade name is Cryptocoryne walkeri, endemic to Sri Lanka. It grows in and along shaded streams, submersed in the wet season and emersed on muddy banks as the water falls. The Lutea line has been in the hobby for decades and is farm raised rather than wild collected.

Common questions

Does Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea 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 walkeri Lutea need CO2?

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

How much light does Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea need?

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

Does Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea need root tabs?

Yes. Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea 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 walkeri Lutea?

Cryptocoryne walkeri Lutea 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.