Staurogyne repens
Alternate Names:
Staurogyne repens is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.
Care At-A-Glance
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Low growing stem plant
Size: Depending on pruning size will vary. Plants can maintain anywhere from 5 - 20cm in lateral (horizontal) growth. Native Range: Brazil (endemic to the Rio Cristalino of the Southern Amazon)
Position and Usage: Carpet or foreground
CO2 Requirements: Not required
Growth Rate: Moderate in the beginning and then fast following a period of root development
Lighting: 2/5 - 5/5
Water Conditions: Soft water is recommended although this plant will tolerate mildly hard water. Staurogyne is adaptable and can grow in a range of pH
Propagation/Reproduction: Propagation by cuttings at least 5cm long; remove the leaves from the stem on all nodes except at the top of the cutting and replant. Special Requirements: None but a fertile substrate and good micronutrient (iron) availability is recommended as this plant can grow quite dense in high-tech tanks with good lighting and CO2 . Emersed Growth: Suitable for emersed or semi-emersed growth in Wabi Kusa and Paludariums
Detailed Information
Overview
Staurogyne repens A splendidly low growing plant with beautiful foliage and a tendency to crawl along the tank bottom, Staurogyne repens is the easiest carpeting plant for a planted aquarium and one of the best options for capeting a low-tech tank without CO2 injection.
Despite being a fairly recent addition to the hobby Staurogyne repens is surprisingly easy to cultivate and works extraordinarily well in small aquariums and low tech tanks while being able to take full advantage of high tech luxuries. It is a naturally compact plant that likes to form thick bunches. Because it spreads laterally via a creeping horizontal stem, it's a great way to achieve that coveted foreground "lawn" or "carpet" appearance.
References and Further Reading