- Sku: 8805510
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
Hygrophila Pinnatifida - Cup
Your order is reserved — we hold off on packaging until you arrive, so it stays healthy in its display tank.
Hygrophila Pinnatifida (Hygrophila pinnatifida) is a striking rhizome plant from India with deeply lobed, fern-like leaves that flash olive green on top and deep wine-red underneath. Unlike most stem plants, it can be attached to driftwood or rocks like Anubias or Bucephalandra, growing outward in a bushy spray. Tissue-cultured in a cup — clean, snail-free, and pesticide-free for safe use in shrimp tanks. Pair with the rest of our freshwater plants.
Care Guide
| Care Level | Intermediate |
| Lighting | Moderate to high |
| CO₂ | Recommended for best red coloration |
| Temperature | 68–82°F |
| pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Placement | Midground — attach to wood/rock or plant in substrate |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Origin | India |
Why Hygrophila Pinnatifida
- Two-tone color — green tops with bronze-to-red undersides give planted scapes a depth most stem plants can’t.
- Mounts like a Buce — the rhizome can be attached to driftwood or rock with glue or thread, growing outward like an epiphyte.
- Tissue culture cup — clean, snail-free, pesticide-free; shrimp-safe out of the cup.
- Versatile placement — plant in substrate as a midground stem or attach to hardscape for a more dramatic spreading look.
- Reds up with light + nutrients — give it more PAR, iron, and CO₂ to push the wine undersides and red tips.
How to Plant
- Rinse the tissue culture gel off in dechlorinated water and separate the plant into individual rooted pieces.
- For substrate: bury just the roots, leaving the rhizome above the substrate (burying the rhizome will rot the plant).
- For hardscape mounting: use a tiny dab of super glue gel or thread to attach the rhizome to dry wood/rock; submerge after attachment.
- Trim side shoots to propagate — each cutting can root and grow into a new plant.
Recommended Pairings
- Hygrophila Pinnatifida — Potted — grab the potted version for a larger starter or to mix sizes.
- Bucephalandra Kapuas Brownie Ghost — pair on driftwood for layered rhizome-style aquascapes.
- More freshwater plants — round out your planted scape.
- Plant additives — iron and macro ferts help drive red coloration.
FAQ
Can I grow it without CO₂?
It survives low-tech, but stays smaller and leans greener. CO₂ unlocks the bushy growth and red undersides this plant is known for.
Why are leaves falling off?
The most common cause is shading from above; pinnatifida wants its own clear light path. Also check that the rhizome isn’t buried and that you’re dosing trace ferts (iron especially).
Will shrimp damage it?
No — shrimp graze biofilm off the leaves without harming the plant. It’s a great backdrop for a Neocaridina or Caridina tank.
Does it spread fast?
Moderate. Side shoots multiply over a few weeks; you can clip and replant cuttings to fill in faster.
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Hygrophila Pinnatifida - Cup
