Hygrophila corymbosa - Immersed Potted Plant

Hygrophila corymbosa also known as "Cherry Leaf" is a robust, fast-growing stem plant with broad, lanceolate leaves. Extremely adaptable and forgiving, making it a favourite for stabilising new aquaria, soaking up excess nutrients, and providing lush, bushy greenery in the mid- to background.

Origin

• Region: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)

• Habitat: Slow rivers, floodplains and swamps; often emergent during dry periods

Physical characteristics

• Form: Upright, branching stems with opposite leaves

• Leaf shape & size: Broad lanceolate leaves, typically 2–5 cm wide and 6–12+ cm long submerged (varies by variety)

• Colour: Medium to deep green; bronze/red tints under strong light and rich nutrients

• Height in aquaria: Commonly 25–50+ cm; compact forms stay shorter

Aquarium requirements

Difficulty

• Level: Easy

Lighting

• Requirement: Medium light is sufficient; medium–high encourages tighter internodes, broader leaves and richer colour

CO₂

• Demand: Low–medium

• Thrives without injection; added CO₂ (~10–20 mg/L) increases growth rate and density

Nutrients & substrate

• Feeding: Combines water-column uptake with strong root feeding

• Substrate: Inert or active; growth is best with nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs

• Fertilisation: Benefits from complete NPK + traces; watch for:

  • Pale new leaves → often iron/micros

  • Pinholes/edge necrosis → often potassium

  • Overall yellowing/slow growth → nitrogen

Water parameters (guideline)

• Temperature: 20–28 °C (tolerates 18–30 °C)

• pH: 6.0–7.5

• GH: 3–15 °dGH

• KH: 1–10 °dKH

• Flow: Gentle–moderate

Planting & spacing

• Plant stems 3–5 cm apart to let light reach lower leaves

• Place as mid-/background; taller groups at the back or sides to frame the scape

Propagation

• Cuttings: Trim 10–15 cm apical tops and replant the tops; they root quickly

• Side shoots: Pinch and plant as new stems

• Remove ageing lower sections once they become woody or leafless

Maintenance

• Hedge trim: Cut a dense bush to height, leaving 5–10 cm stumps; multiple new shoots form from nodes

• Top-replant reset: Uproot, trim the best tops and replant; discard bare bases

• Debris/algae care: Stable nutrients and CO₂ (if used) plus regular water changes keep broad leaves clean

Aquascaping use

• Bold, leafy contrast to fine-textured stems and carpets

• Excellent nutrient sponge in new or heavily stocked tanks

• Use behind wood/stone to soften lines; create depth with a sloped or triangular grouping

Companion compatibility

• Community-safe; provides cover for fish and shrimp

• May be nibbled by herbivores (goldfish, silver dollars) or uprooted by large diggers—avoid such tank mates

Lifecycle & emersed form

• Perennial; readily grows emersed in humid conditions

• Emersed plants develop thicker leaves and can produce small lilac flowers; adapts back to submerged with a short transition

Common issues & diagnostics

• Leggy, bare lower stems: Insufficient light at the base → thin the group, increase light, or reset by top-replanting

• Yellowing/pale growth: Macro deficiency (often N) or low micros → dose a complete fertiliser; ensure K and Fe are available

• Melt after purchase: Emersed-to-submerged transition → trim damaged leaves; healthy submerged shoots will replace them

• Algae on leaves: Light–nutrient imbalance → shorten photoperiod, maintain nutrients, improve flow and consistency

Special features / benefits

• Rapid growth outcompetes algae and buffers nutrient swings

• Ideal beginner stem that still looks premium in advanced layouts

Origin
Country or continent where a plant is the most common. Cultivars arise or are bred in cultivation.

Growth Rate
Growth rate of the plant compared to other aquatic plants.

Height
Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.

Light Demand
The average or medium light demand of an aquarium plant is 0.5 W/L.

CO2 Demand
A medium need in CO2 is 6-14 mg/L. A high demand in CO2 is approx. 15-25 mg/L.