Water wisteria care

Hygrophila difformis

Water wisteria (Hygrophila difformis)
Shown: water wisteria grown in a botanical garden. Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Water wisteria is a fast stem plant with lacy leaves that uses up nutrients and helps keep algae down in a new tank.

Light
Medium
CO₂
Helps
Where it goes
Background
Growth
Fast
Care level
Easy
Height
8 to 20 in
Temperature
70 to 82 °F
How to plant
Plant stems separately, an inch apart
Propagation
Replant the cut tops; side shoots

In a 20 gallon long

12¾ in tall
Drawn at its usual full height on the same scale as the tank; taller plants reach the surface and trail along it.

How to grow water wisteria

Water wisteria is a fast stem plant with lacy leaves that uses up nutrients and helps keep algae down in a new tank. It grows in medium light without CO₂ and changes leaf shape with light and temperature.

Common problems

  • Thin, leggy stems mean too little light.
  • Fast growth needs trimming every week or two.

Light for water wisteria

Medium-light plants grow best under a planted-tank LED that spans the tank. Check the mounting length against your tank before buying: how to fit a planted light.

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Fluval Plant 3.0 22W

Adjustable mounting range 15–24 in; maker publishes 1,450 lm and PAR at several depths.

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 CRV-24

Fixed 24-in fixture model; fit depends on the supplied legs and tank span.

Plants that grow in the same light

Sources

Plant identity from Wikipedia: Hygrophila difformis. Heights, temperatures and care are typical ranges in aquariums from common planted-tank practice, not figures from that article. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.

Photo credits

Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.