Hydrocotyle 'Japan' - Potted

Hydrocotyle tripartita 'Japan' is an easy, fast-growing carpet plant covered in tiny, bright green, fan-shaped leaves on creeping stems. One of the most versatile plants in the hobby, it can carpet the foreground under strong light, mound into a soft midground bush, or scramble up driftwood and rock. It arrives as a healthy potted nursery plant with a full root mass, ready to spread quickly across your scape. Browse the rest of our freshwater aquarium plants.

Care Guide

• Light: Medium to high. Bright light keeps it low and tight for a dense carpet; lower light makes it grow taller and more open.
• CO2: Not required. Injected CO2 produces a faster, denser, more compact carpet, but it grows well without it.
• Substrate: Roots into any nutrient-rich planted substrate. Root tabs help it spread and stay lush.
• Planting: Remove the pot and rockwool, rinse the roots, and separate the plant into small clumps. Press each clump into the substrate a couple of inches apart, and they will knit together as runners spread.

Specifications

In the Aquascape

Few plants are as flexible as Hydrocotyle 'Japan'. Trimmed low under bright light it forms a fresh green carpet across the foreground. Left a little taller it mounds into a bushy midground accent, and tied to wood or stone it will happily climb and soften your hardscape. Its lively, rounded leaves add a cheerful texture that contrasts beautifully with fine-leaved stems and dark substrate.

Pairs Well With

• Dwarf Baby Tears for a finer-leaved carpet alongside it.
• Dwarf Hairgrass to blend a grassy texture into the foreground.
• Pogostemon erectus as a fine green backdrop behind the carpet.
• Neocaridina shrimp that graze and shelter in the dense low growth.

FAQ

How do I plant a potted plant?
Pop the plant out of its pot, peel away the rockwool, and rinse the roots under dechlorinated water. Separate it into small portions and plant each one in the substrate. They will spread and fill in on their own.

Will it really carpet my tank?
Yes, under medium to high light. Strong light keeps it growing flat and dense. In lower light it still grows fast but reaches upward instead of hugging the substrate.

Do I need CO2?
No. Hydrocotyle 'Japan' is a strong grower without CO2. Adding CO2 simply makes the carpet tighter and faster to fill in.

Some lower leaves melted after planting, is that normal?
Yes. Nursery plants are grown above water and may shed a few emersed leaves as they convert to underwater growth. New submersed leaves follow quickly, so just trim any melt and let it establish.