Dwarf Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne parva
Araceae
About
Cryptocoryne parva is the smallest of all Cryptocorynes, a compact rosette plant from the riverbanks around Kandy in central Sri Lanka. Reaching only 3-6 cm tall, it forms a low, grassy foreground carpet of narrow green leaves. It is a true root feeder that establishes very slowly and rewards patience, but once settled it is undemanding and long lived.
Care
Plant individual rosettes a few centimetres apart in a nutrient-rich substrate with root tabs, and give it more light than other crypts. Growth is very slow, so be patient and avoid shading it with taller plants.
Diet
A heavy root feeder that draws most of its nutrients from the substrate; supply a nutritive base or root tabs, while gentle CO2 and water-column dosing speed up its otherwise slow growth.
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Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Dwarf Cryptocoryne need?
- Dwarf Cryptocoryne does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
- Where should Dwarf Cryptocoryne be placed in the aquarium?
- Dwarf Cryptocoryne works best in the foreground and reaches around 6 cm.
- Is the Dwarf Cryptocoryne suitable for beginners?
- Dwarf Cryptocoryne sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.