TankBud

Eriocaulon Vietnam

Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam'

Also known as Erio Vietnam, Eriocaulon 'Vietnam', Vietnam pipewort

FreshwaterRosetteDivisionSide shoots

Eriocaulon Vietnam (Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
9.8 in
25 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
5.0–7.5
Hardness
1–8 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Eriocaulaceae
Origin
Collected from soft, mineral poor waters in Vietnam, where pipeworts grow in seasonally flooded sandy ground.

Overview

Eriocaulon Vietnam is a pipewort that forms a rosette of narrow leaves for the midground of a planted tank. It is rated difficult, though it is one of the more forgiving pipeworts.

Did you know

Eriocaulon Vietnam is named for the country it came from, not for a described species. Many aquarium erios are trade forms named by their country of origin in the same way.

Caring for Eriocaulon Vietnam

Plant Eriocaulon Vietnam in a nutrient rich substrate, burying the roots and leaving the crown just above the surface. It is usually sold grown emersed, so expect some melt over the first few weeks while it converts to submerged leaves.

Give it medium light, injected CO2 and soft water, kept at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C). Pipeworts are heavy root feeders, so tuck extra root tabs beneath each rosette. It also takes nutrients through its leaves, and a liquid fertilizer covers that side.

It grows at a medium pace and produces daughter rosettes that cluster into a dense, grassy bush. Split a large clump into smaller ones, or cut off a side shoot once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

Hard water or low CO2 stalls it, and algae then overtakes the older leaves. Stable conditions keep it growing steadily.

Good to know

Eriocaulon Vietnam is a pipewort, a flowering plant in the family Eriocaulaceae. Pipeworts form tight rosettes of grass-like leaves and send up button-shaped flower heads on thin stalks. This one grows many narrow, arching green leaves that radiate out from a central point. Shops also sell it as Erio Vietnam or Vietnam pipewort.

In the wild

Eriocaulon Vietnam was collected from soft, mineral poor waters in Vietnam. Pipeworts there grow in seasonally flooded sandy ground, and this plant can grow both submersed and emersed.

Common questions

Does Eriocaulon Vietnam need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Bury the roots and leave the crown, where the leaves join, just above the substrate.

Does Eriocaulon Vietnam need CO2?

Yes. Eriocaulon Vietnam needs injected CO2 to grow well, and it usually struggles without it.

How much light does Eriocaulon Vietnam need?

Eriocaulon Vietnam wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Eriocaulon Vietnam need root tabs?

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

How do you propagate Eriocaulon Vietnam?

Eriocaulon Vietnam propagates by division and side shoots. Split a large clump into smaller ones and plant them separately. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Eriocaulon Vietnam grow?

Eriocaulon Vietnam grows to about 9.8 in (25 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

Related plants