TankBud

Cryptocoryne yujii

Also known as Crypt yujii

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
3.9 in
10 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
6.0–7.5
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Araceae
Origin
Sarawak, Borneo (Malaysia)

Overview

Cryptocoryne yujii is a rare blackwater crypt from Borneo and a slow rosette for the midground. It is rated medium, and specialists find it surprisingly willing in cultivation.

Did you know

Cryptocoryne yujii carries its discoverer's first name. Yuji Sasaki, a Japanese hobbyist, found it in Sarawak in 2002, and crypt specialist Jan Bastmeijer named it the same year.

Caring for Cryptocoryne yujii

Choose a spot for Cryptocoryne yujii once and leave it there, since moving it triggers leaf loss. Plant it in nutrient-rich soil, or in an inert substrate with root tabs. Expect some crypt melt after planting, and let it regrow rather than pulling it.

Low to medium light suits it, and CO2 is optional but speeds up this slow plant. It feeds through both roots and leaves, so add a liquid fertilizer as well. Keep it at pH 6 to 7.5 and 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C). Soft, acidic water gets closest to its home streams.

It stays a manageable rosette in most tanks and slowly spreads by runners. Divide the rhizome or separate the plantlets to propagate it.

Good to know

Cryptocoryne yujii is a water trumpet in the family Araceae. Its leaves are smooth and bright green, up to about 12 cm long in habitat. The spathe is the species' signature, a long twisted white limb with a red-purple collar and an irregularly wrinkled inner surface. The chromosome count is 2n = 34.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne yujii grows in streams and small rivers near Sibu, on both sides of the Rajang River in Sarawak. It favors fairly open spots in secondary forest. The water is very soft, dark and acidic, around pH 5.6, and erosion clouds it at times.

Common questions

Does Cryptocoryne yujii 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 yujii need CO2?

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

How much light does Cryptocoryne yujii need?

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

Does Cryptocoryne yujii need root tabs?

They help. Cryptocoryne yujii takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Cryptocoryne yujii?

Cryptocoryne yujii 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 yujii grow?

Cryptocoryne yujii grows to about 3.9 in (10 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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