{"product_id":"water-wisteria-hygrophila-difformis-potted-freshwater-plant","title":"Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) - 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\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Wisteria\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eHygrophila difformis\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the fastest and most forgiving stem plants in the freshwater hobby. Under bright light it throws deeply cut, lacy leaves that look almost fern-like. In a dimmer tank the same plant grows broader, simpler leaves, so two clippings from one stem can look like two different species. It grows quickly enough to pull real nitrate out of the water, which is why it shows up in fry tanks, betta tanks, and any setup that is losing a fight with algae. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003elive freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSold as a nursery pot in rock wool, ready to separate into several individual stems. Beginner friendly and no CO2 required.\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\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:6px 0 10px;\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eCare Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eEasy, beginner friendly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLow to high (lacier leaves under brighter light)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eCO2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eNot required, growth speeds up with it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e70 to 82°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003epH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eHardness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e2 to 15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBackground or midground, can also be left floating\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\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;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eHeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8 to 20 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;font-weight:600;width:40%;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #C8E6C9;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSoutheast Asia\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 Water Wisteria\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNutrient sponge.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growth means it pulls ammonia and nitrate out of the water column faster than most stem plants, which starves algae of what it needs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape-shifting leaves.\u003c\/strong\u003e Deeply lobed and lacy in bright light, broader and rounder in low light. Same plant, two looks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFry and shrimp cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e The finely divided leaves make excellent hiding places for baby livebearers and grazing surface for Neocaridina shrimp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant it or float it.\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows rooted in substrate or drifting at the surface, where it puts out trailing roots and shades the tank below.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFree plants forever.\u003c\/strong\u003e Every trimming can be replanted, so one pot turns into a background over a couple of months.\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;\"\u003eHow to Plant\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlip the plant out of the pot and tease the rock wool away from the roots under running dechlorinated water. Leftover wool in the substrate can rot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeparate the bunch into individual stems and plant them about 2 inches apart. Bury the lowest node or two and keep the growing tip well clear of the substrate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrefer it floating? Just drop the separated stems on the surface. They will grow toward the light and trail roots downward.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExpect some melt in the first two weeks. Nursery plants are grown emersed, so the first set of leaves often dies back before new submersed growth takes over. Do not pull it out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrim the tops once it reaches the surface, then replant the cuttings to thicken the stand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\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\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/easy-root-tabs-60-tablets\"\u003eAquarium Co-Op Easy Root Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e, root feeding keeps the lower leaves from yellowing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/seachem-flourish-comprehensive-supplement\"\u003eSeachem Flourish\u003c\/a\u003e, a water-column fertilizer for a plant that grows this quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/moneywort-bacopa-monnieri-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eMoneywort (Bacopa monnieri)\u003c\/a\u003e, another easy background stem with a very different leaf shape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ludwigia-super-red-mini-potted-freshwater-plant\"\u003eLudwigia Super Red Mini\u003c\/a\u003e, red contrast against all that green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\"\u003eMore freshwater plants\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/maintenance-water-care\"\u003ewater care\u003c\/a\u003e to round out the scape.\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;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy wisteria melted right after I planted it. Did I kill it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlmost certainly not. Nursery stock is grown out of water, and those emersed leaves usually die back once submerged. Leave the stems in place, keep the light on, and new submersed leaves will push out within a few weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need CO2 or a fancy light?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Water Wisteria is a low-tech staple and grows fine under a basic LED. CO2 and stronger light simply make it faster and lacier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are my leaves round instead of lacy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat is a light response, not a problem. Lower light and emersed growth give broad, shallowly toothed leaves. Raise the light and the new growth comes in deeply divided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I keep it with goldfish or large cichlids?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot reliably. The soft leaves are on the menu for goldfish, silver dollars, and most large cichlids. It is a great match for community tanks, bettas, shrimp, and fry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get more of it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCut a healthy top about 4 inches long, strip the bottom leaves, and push it into the substrate. It roots within a week or two. The trimmed parent stem branches and gets bushier.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49191294959835,"sku":"FW5-PWAWI","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/29e4d066-6d1b-4b38-a905-d65ef00573db.png?v=1787936631","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/water-wisteria-hygrophila-difformis-potted-freshwater-plant","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}