Hygrophila difformis is a very common aquarium plant, and for good reason, it grows fast and looks good. Its Swedish name is vattenwistaria, I don't know how it got that name. When I was starting out with aquariums it was called "Synnema triflorum", but it changed names to Hygrophila difformis. This plant has several close relatives that also make good aquarium plants.
I think Hygrophila difformis is one of the prettiest aquarium plants you can have, and still it is one of the easiest plants to care for. As long as you have enough light in your aquarium, that is. The photo to the right show a typical way these plants spread on their own - any leaf that gets lose produces new plants!
Hygrophila polysperma is a common aquarium plant, and for good reason, it grows fast and looks rather good even though this plant in my opinion is not quite as good looking as its close relative Hygrophila difformis.
This plant prefer a bit of carbon dioxide in the water, so either a low tech planted aquarium or a high tech planted aquarium will make this plant grow well.
Carefully save all leaves that fall off, because just as with its cousin Hygrophila difformis all leaves can grow into a new plant. I don't know if even parts of leaves can grow into new plants (as Hygrophila difformis can). The top right photo shows a leave that has been floating by itself a short while. The photo to the left shows a plant that has grown from such a leave, still small and floating. Any fish in the photos are Endlers.
This is a new plant for me, that seems to grow very well :-) The leaves are much longer than in H. polysperma, and the whole plant seems sturdier.
This is a new plant for me, that seems to grow well :-) The leaves are a bit bigger than in H. polysperma, and the whole plant seems a bit sturdier.
Copyright: Eva Johansson.
Last update: 24th of November 2006.