How to Grow Cryptocoryne

Prepare your aquarium. Wipe the glass with a clean paper towel dipped into lukewarm water. Place a 2-inch layer of clean, rinsed aquarium gravel on the bottom of the tank.

Add a layer of nutrient-rich substrate. Cryptocoryne plants require a substrate rich in potassium and iron. Buy a substrate specially developed for planted aquariums at an aquatic store or an online vendor. Add aquatic plant fertilizer if you plan to grow crypts along with fast-growing water plants.

Add 6 to 8 inches of clean water. Keep the water temperature between 75 and 80 degrees. If you need to raise the temperature, purchase a low-wattage heating cable and place it beneath the substrate.

Wait four to six months to plant your cryptocoryne. Crypts need stability to grow, so this gives your aquarium time to become an established ecosystem.

Purchase crypt plants from anl aquatic supplies store or a reputable online vendor. Pinch off older leaves so that just three or four younger leaves remain on your plant.

Separate your cryptocoryne into several planting sections. Hold onto a longer stem, and carefully untangle the roots. Remove any protective material from the roots. Use scissors to carefully trim off any broken root tips.

Plant your cryptocoryne in the tank using tweezers or your fingers. Gently push the crypt deep into the substrate, and carefully pull the plant back up until the root base lies just beneath the surface.

Make sure that your aquarium isn't brightly lit. Purdue University notes that most crypt varieties prefer low- to medium-lighting conditions. Bright lights promote the growth of algae on plant leaves. Add a few taller, fine-leaf plants to provide your crypts with dappled shade.

Keep your tank clean. Purdue University suggests changing the water every few months. Avoid rapid changes in water temperature by using tap water that has stood in a plastic or glass container for a minimum of 48 hours. Occasionally trim off any dead plant parts to promote new growth.