Form of Staurogyne repens

Staurogyne repens Variegated

Staurogyne repens 'Variegated'

The named form of Staurogyne repens · See the species →

Also known as S. repens Variegated, Variegated Staurogyne repens

FreshwaterCarpetingSide shootsCuttings

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
3.9 in
10 cm
Placement
Foreground
Type
Carpeting
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
0–12 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Family
Acanthaceae
Origin
Cultivated form (nursery selection, no wild range)

Overview

Staurogyne repens Variegated is a cream-streaked form of Staurogyne repens, a low carpeting plant for the foreground. It rates medium difficulty.

Did you know

The cream streaks on Staurogyne repens Variegated hold little chlorophyll. The green parts of each leaf do most of the feeding.

Caring for Staurogyne repens Variegated

Split Staurogyne repens Variegated into small clumps and plant them in the foreground or low midground, where taller plants will not shade it. Start with medium light and add more if the stems stretch thin and upright.

It grows without injected CO2, though added CO2 speeds it up. Keep light, CO2 and a complete fertilizer steady, since the cream patches fade when conditions swing. It feeds through both roots and leaves, so add root tabs to the liquid fertilizer. It handles 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C).

It grows at a moderate pace. Trim the tops to make it branch, and replant the most streaked tops after each trim. Pinch out any shoot that comes up solid green. Yellowing leaves point to a nutrient gap, and thinning leaves point to low CO2.

Good to know

Staurogyne repens Variegated is a form of Staurogyne repens, a small creeping stem plant in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. It keeps the small, spade-shaped leaves and compact habit of the green plant. Its leaves are streaked or marbled with cream to pale yellow over green.

In the wild

Staurogyne repens Variegated is a cultivated form with no wild population, and where the variegation first appeared has not been published. UNS sells it in the US as tissue culture. The green species comes from the Rio Cristalino in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Wild plants there root among rocks on the banks of a fast river, mostly above the waterline and in full sun.

Common questions

Is Staurogyne repens Variegated a different species from Staurogyne repens?

No. Staurogyne repens Variegated is a form of Staurogyne repens. It is grown the same way apart from its difficulty and growth rate.

Does Staurogyne repens Variegated need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Split it into small clumps and push each one into the substrate with tweezers, leaving gaps for it to fill.

Does Staurogyne repens Variegated need CO2?

No, but it helps. Staurogyne repens Variegated can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Staurogyne repens Variegated need?

Staurogyne repens Variegated wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Staurogyne repens Variegated need root tabs?

They help. Staurogyne repens Variegated takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Staurogyne repens Variegated?

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

How tall does Staurogyne repens Variegated grow?

Staurogyne repens Variegated grows to about 3.9 in (10 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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