TankBud

Form of Cryptocoryne wendtii

Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset

Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Florida Sunset'

One of 9 forms of Cryptocoryne wendtii · See all forms →

Also known as Crypt Florida Sunset, Cryptocoryne Florida Sunset

FreshwaterBrackishRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Forms · Cryptocoryne wendtii

See all 9 →

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
7.9 in
20 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
3–12 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root feeder
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Nursery cultivar (Florida Aquatic Nurseries, USA); wild ancestry from the Mi Oya river, Sri Lanka

Overview

Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset is an easy midground crypt grown for its variegated leaves. It takes standard wendtii care.

Did you know

Most crypts in the trade are named for the river or country they were collected from. Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset is the odd one out, named for the state where a nursery bred it.

Caring for Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset

Plant Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset in the midground, in a nutrient-rich substrate or with root tabs, and keep the crown above the soil. Stable water parameters suit it best.

It grows in low light, but medium light keeps the pink and cream tones strong. In very dim tanks, new leaves lean more bronze green. CO2 is not required, though it nudges the slow growth along. Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).

It runs a step slower than plain wendtii, because the variegated leaf tissue photosynthesizes less. Expect the usual crypt melt after planting or big parameter swings. Leave the rooted crown alone until new leaves come back, then let runners spread or divide the rhizome.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset is a water trumpet in the arum family, Araceae, and one of the few crypt cultivars deliberately raised in a nursery. Its pink, cream and bronze variegation is a stable trait, strongest on new leaves. It comes from patches of leaf tissue with little chlorophyll. Botanically it remains Cryptocoryne wendtii, with the species' spathe-and-spadix flower.

In the wild

Florida Aquatic Nurseries selected Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset from Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Mi Oya' in 2006. Its wild ancestry traces to the Mi Oya river in Sri Lanka's warm lowlands. There wendtii grows along shaded streams, submersed in the channel and emersed on the banks.

Common questions

Is Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset a different species from Cryptocoryne wendtii?

No. Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset is a form of Cryptocoryne wendtii. It reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm), against 9.8 in (25 cm) for the species. Added CO2 helps it, while the species grows well without. It also differs in difficulty, growth rate and spread.

Does Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset 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 wendtii Florida Sunset need CO2?

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

How much light does Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset need?

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

Does Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset need root tabs?

Yes. Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset 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 wendtii Florida Sunset?

Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset 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 wendtii Florida Sunset grow?

Cryptocoryne wendtii Florida Sunset grows to about 7.9 in (20 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

Related plants