TankBud

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK

Hygrophila pinnatifida 'UK'

Also known as Hygrophila pinnatifida sp. UK, Hygrophila pinnatifida 'Uttara Kannada', Hygrophila pinnatifida Uttarakannada

FreshwaterStemCuttingsRunnersSide shoots

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK (Hygrophila pinnatifida 'UK')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
64–82°F
18–28°C
Max height
7.9 in
20 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
5.5–8.0
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
7.9 in (20 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Acanthaceae
Origin
Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, India (Western Ghats)

Overview

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK is a midground plant grown just like the standard pinnatifida, on hardscape or in the substrate. It is a plant of medium difficulty.

Did you know

The UK on the tag of Hygrophila pinnatifida UK has nothing to do with Britain. It stands for Uttara Kannada, the Indian district where this form was collected.

Caring for Hygrophila pinnatifida UK

Root Hygrophila pinnatifida UK in the substrate, or attach it to wood and rock, where its runners creep and pin new crowns to the hardscape. Keep the water at 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C).

Medium to strong light with CO2 keeps it compact, textured and red. It still grows without injected CO2, but in a dim tank it turns green, leggy and sparse. It appreciates steady macro- and micronutrient dosing, with root tabs near any roots in the substrate.

It grows at a moderate pace and dislikes reaching the surface, so top it before it gets there. Pinching the tips forces side shoots and builds the dense patchwork it is known for. Propagate it from cuttings, side shoots or the plantlets it sets along the hardscape.

Good to know

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK belongs to the Acanthaceae, and its species is unusual in the genus for deeply lobed, fern-like leaves. It is one of the very few stem plants that grips rock like an epiphyte. Aquascapers treat it more like a fern than a hygro. The UK form entered the hobby through ADA tissue culture. It has longer, more deeply cut leaves than the standard trade plant, with stronger red-brown color. The name marks a collection site, not a separate species or a formal cultivar.

In the wild

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK is a locality form from Karnataka, India. The species grows in the Western Ghats on rocks along streams and rivers. It sits emersed in monsoon-soaked ground for part of the year and submersed in flowing water for the rest.

Common questions

Does Hygrophila pinnatifida UK need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Hygrophila pinnatifida UK need CO2?

No, but it helps. Hygrophila pinnatifida UK can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Hygrophila pinnatifida UK need?

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Hygrophila pinnatifida UK need root tabs?

They help. Hygrophila pinnatifida UK takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Hygrophila pinnatifida UK?

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK propagates by cuttings, runners and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it.

How tall does Hygrophila pinnatifida UK grow?

Hygrophila pinnatifida UK grows to about 7.9 in (20 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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