Hydrocotyle Japan
Hydrocotyle tripartita
Araliaceae
About
The creeping pennywort sold almost everywhere as the 'Japan' form, recognisable at a glance by its small, deeply cut three-lobed leaves that look like miniature clover. It is one of the few genuinely forgiving carpets: fast, undemanding, and far less temperamental than Glossostigma or dwarf baby tears, which makes it the sensible first carpet for a beginner. It roots as readily over wood and stone as it does in substrate, so it can be used to green a rock face or spill over a piece of driftwood. Light changes its shape rather than its survival: bright light with CO2 keeps it creeping flat and dense, while in a dim low-tech tank the same plant lives on but climbs and sprawls upward instead of hugging the ground.
Care
Plant small portions a few centimetres apart in nutrient substrate, or wedge them into hardscape crevices. A flat, tight carpet needs bright light and CO2 - without them expect a loose sprawling bush instead. Trim every couple of weeks, because unchecked it shades itself and overruns its neighbours.
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Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Hydrocotyle Japan need?
- Hydrocotyle Japan does best at 10–30 °C (50–86 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 0–30 °dGH.
- Where should Hydrocotyle Japan be placed in the aquarium?
- Hydrocotyle Japan works best in the foreground and reaches around 10 cm.
- Is the Hydrocotyle Japan suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Hydrocotyle Japan is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.