TankBud

Hygrophila polysperma

Also known as Dwarf hygro, Indian waterweed, Miramar weed, East Indian hygrophila

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Prohibited. Listed as a US federal noxious weed, so bringing it into the US or moving it across state lines needs a USDA permit, and some states ban it outright. Never release into the wild.

Hygrophila polysperma (Hygrophila polysperma)
Valiromeovich · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
64–82°F
18–28°C
Max height
17.7 in
45 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
5.0–8.0
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Beginner
Family
Acanthaceae
Origin
South and Southeast Asia (India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal)

Overview

Hygrophila polysperma is a fast-growing stem plant for the midground to background. It is a beginner plant.

Did you know

Hygrophila polysperma grows so aggressively that it is a federally listed noxious weed in the United States. It is illegal to sell or transport across state lines there, yet it remains one of the most recommended beginner plants elsewhere in the world.

Caring for Hygrophila polysperma

Strip the lower leaves and plant cuttings in loose bunches in the midground to background. Space the stems so light reaches the lower leaves. Keep the water at 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C).

Hygrophila polysperma is one of the toughest plants in the hobby. It grows fast in low light with no CO2. It feeds from both the water column and the substrate, so root tabs and a liquid fertilizer both help. That appetite makes it excellent for cycling new tanks and soaking up excess nutrients.

Its speed is the main pitfall, since it needs frequent trimming or it shades everything below it. Replant the cut tops and side shoots to fill out the group. Because it is invasive, put spare trimmings in the trash rather than releasing them into waterways.

Good to know

Hygrophila polysperma belongs to the family Acanthaceae, the same family as the larger Hygrophila corymbosa. It grows upward from a single shoot, with pairs of opposite leaves, and it roots readily at any node that touches the substrate. The popular Rosanervig variety gets its pink veining from a controlled nutrient variegation, and the Danish nursery Tropica named and distributed it. It is also called dwarf hygro and Indian waterweed.

In the wild

Hygrophila polysperma comes from streams, ditches and marshes across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. It grows submersed as a soft-stemmed water plant and emersed along muddy banks during low water. It tolerates a very wide range of conditions. That is why it has naturalized and become an invasive weed in parts of North America and Europe.

Common questions

Does Hygrophila polysperma 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 polysperma need CO2?

No. Hygrophila polysperma grows well without added CO2 and suits a low-tech tank.

How much light does Hygrophila polysperma need?

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

Does Hygrophila polysperma need root tabs?

They help. Hygrophila polysperma 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 polysperma?

Hygrophila polysperma propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Hygrophila polysperma grow?

Hygrophila polysperma grows to about 17.7 in (45 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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