TankBud

Pogostemon quadrifolius

Also known as Pogostemon stellatus 'Octopus', Pogostemon 'Octopus', Eusteralis quadrifolia

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Pogostemon quadrifolius (Pogostemon quadrifolius)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
15.7 in
40 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
3–15 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Lamiaceae
Origin
India, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia

Overview

Pogostemon quadrifolius is an easy, fast-growing background stem with a soft, feathery, bottle-brush look. It is one of the more forgiving fine-leaved stems.

Did you know

Pogostemon quadrifolius looks like a demanding high-tech stem, yet it is beginner-friendly and grows in low-tech tanks. That is unusual for a plant with such delicate needle-leaf foliage.

Caring for Pogostemon quadrifolius

Strip the lower leaves and plant the stems in the background, a little apart. Pogostemon quadrifolius wants medium light, though it also grows under high light.

It grows without injected CO2, but injection keeps it denser and more compact. Feed regular macros and micros, through root tabs for the roots and a liquid fertilizer for the leaves. It handles 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).

It grows fast and shoots up quickly, so trim it often before it shades the plants behind it. Replant the trimmed tops, and cut off side shoots with a few leaves, to fill out a bushy background stand.

Good to know

Pogostemon quadrifolius sits in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It takes its species name from the whorls of four leaves at each node. Shops often sell it under the incorrect trade name Pogostemon stellatus 'Octopus', but it is a distinct species from Pogostemon stellatus.

In the wild

Pogostemon quadrifolius is native to India, eastern Bangladesh and parts of Southeast Asia. It grows in marshes and along shallow water margins.

Common questions

Does Pogostemon quadrifolius 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 Pogostemon quadrifolius need CO2?

No, but it helps. Pogostemon quadrifolius can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Pogostemon quadrifolius need?

Pogostemon quadrifolius wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Pogostemon quadrifolius need root tabs?

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

How do you propagate Pogostemon quadrifolius?

Pogostemon quadrifolius 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 Pogostemon quadrifolius grow?

Pogostemon quadrifolius grows to about 15.7 in (40 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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