{"product_id":"variegated-pennywort-hydrocotyle-leucocephala-potted-freshwater-plant","title":"Variegated Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala 'Variegated') - Potted","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E8F5E9;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVariegated Pennywort (\u003cem\u003eHydrocotyle leucocephala\u003c\/em\u003e 'Variegated') is the marbled form of the classic Brazilian Pennywort, carrying round, coin-shaped leaves splashed with cream and pale green on trailing stems. It is a fast, forgiving stem plant that needs no CO2 and no special substrate, and the creamy leaves give a planted tank instant contrast against all the usual greens. Sold as a potted live plant. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003efreshwater aquarium plants\u003c\/a\u003e to fill out the aquascape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePennywort is one of the easiest stem plants in the hobby. It pulls most of its nutrients straight from the water column, so a general liquid fertilizer like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e matters more than what is under the gravel. Plant the stems in the substrate, tuck them into hardscape, or simply let them float at the surface. All three work, and floating stems usually grow the fastest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe one thing the variegated form asks for is light. Cream tissue holds less chlorophyll than green tissue, so under dim lighting the plant will grow slower and new leaves tend to come in solid green. Medium to bright light keeps the marbling crisp. A planted-spectrum fixture such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fluval-plant-4-0-aquarium-led-lights\"\u003eFluval Plant 4.0 LED\u003c\/a\u003e is more than enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect fast growth once it settles in, often several inches a week. Trim the tops every couple of weeks to keep it bushy, and replant the cuttings anywhere you want more of it. Each node roots readily, so one pot turns into a thicket in a season. Your plant arrives in a net pot with rock wool around the base. Peel the pot away, tease the rock wool out of the roots, and separate the stems before planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:4px 0 8px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eVariegated Pennywort, Variegated Brazilian Pennywort, Brazilian Pennywort Marble\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHydrocotyle leucocephala\u003c\/em\u003e 'Variegated'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eStem, trailing \/ creeping\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eCare Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner to intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMedium to high (brighter light keeps the variegation)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eCO2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eNot required, beneficial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMidground to background, hardscape, or floating\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e68 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003epH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.8\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCultivated form of a Central and South American species\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eSold As\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePotted plant, net pot with rock wool\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;background:#E8F5E9;font-weight:600;width:42%;\"\u003eAvailability\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eWhy Hobbyists Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:4px 0 8px;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.5;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCream and green marbling breaks up a wall of solid green plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrows fast enough to soak up excess nutrients and help starve out algae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant it, tie it to hardscape, or float it, all three work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo CO2 and no specialty substrate required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery trimmed stem roots, so one pot fills a tank over time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSafe with shrimp, snails, bettas, and community fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:4px 0 8px;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.5;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e for the water-column trace elements this plant feeds on\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-tabs\"\u003eSeachem Flourish Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e if you plant the stems rather than float them\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fluval-plant-and-shrimp-stratum\"\u003eFluval Plant \u0026amp; Shrimp Stratum\u003c\/a\u003e for an easy planted-tank substrate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hydrocotyle-tripartita-japan-potted-freshwater-carpet-plant\"\u003eHydrocotyle 'Japan'\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/moneywort-bacopa-monnieri-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eMoneywort\u003c\/a\u003e for a matching low-fuss stem-plant grouping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amano-shrimp-caridina-multidentata-freshwater\"\u003eAmano Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e to graze algae off the leaves and stems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003eMore live aquarium plants\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the layout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need CO2 to grow this?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Pennywort grows well in a low-tech tank on liquid fertilizer alone. CO2 speeds it up, but it is not required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy new leaves are coming in solid green. What happened?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat is the plant reverting under low light. Variegated tissue has less chlorophyll, so the plant favors green growth when it is short on light. Raise the intensity or move it closer to the surface and the marbling returns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I float it instead of planting it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Floating stems grow the fastest and give shrimp and fry cover. Many hobbyists run it both ways in the same tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLeaves reach about three quarters to one and a half inches across, and stems will keep growing to the surface and beyond. Trim it every week or two to keep it in bounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it safe with shrimp and bettas?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It is a favorite in shrimp tanks and betta tanks, since the leaves and stems give plenty of cover and grazing surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get my plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese are in-store pickup only. We hold your order and pull it fresh when you arrive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49051152253147,"sku":null,"price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/6348f06d-d701-4b90-b5f9-e6003554361e.png?v=1785585108","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/variegated-pennywort-hydrocotyle-leucocephala-potted-freshwater-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}