Willow leaf Hygrophila

[Hoppy]

I come to praise this plant! (PlantGeek.net - Hygrophila salicifolia) Several weeks ago I purchased a few cuttings from a member of APC, planted them in the back of my 45 gallon tank and now they look like:


This is a magnificent plant for a large aquarium. It is similar to vals in that the leaves become very long and they sway back and forth in the water currents. But, it is a stem plant, so each stem has leaves growing on each branch, typical of hygros. At the top of the tank where the light is the strongest, the leaves take on golden, bronze, pink tones - subtle, but very nice looking.

One of the best features of the plant is the absence of aerial roots. Most hygros tend to become a mass of aerial roots on the lower stems, which forces you to eventually pull the plants and replant only the tops. So far I have been just trimming off the tops, selling or giving them away, and allowing the bottoms to grow more stems. I can see very few aerial roots.

My tank has had from 90 to 110 watts of light, and the plants have grown well throughout. I use CO2 at about 30 ppm, and EI fertilizing.

If I had a 100 gallon tank, this would be a major group of plants in it.

[Pat7676]

Cool plant!!

[goalcreas]

Very nice, got I might have to get some next time you offer it up for sale.

[JDowns]

I have to agree with you Hoppy. I have this in my 150 and it has always been one of my favorite Hygro plants along with Hygrophila polysperma "Sunset",

[John N.]

Cool plant, it looks like it's hard to tame or can get messy looking if not kept in check.

What is the moss growing on your driftwood to the right? It's sticking up like you stuck hair gel on it.

-John N.

[JDowns]

Taxiphyllum Alternans sp. Theres Something About Mary ??

[Hoppy]

I don't know what the moss is. It was in a bag with a plant I picked up at a club meeting. I just assumed it was ordinary Java Moss. It is growing on a piece of granite tile, which I then laid on top of the "log" in the tank, where it seems to enjoy life.