Temple Plant
Hygrophila corymbosa
Acanthaceae
About
Hygrophila corymbosa is a big, fast, thoroughly forgiving stem plant from the swamps and rice paddies of Southeast Asia. Submersed it sends up sturdy upright stems clothed in large, soft, light-green leaves and reaches roughly 50 cm, so it belongs along the back wall of a tall tank rather than in a nano. The species is extremely variable and arrives in shops under a crowd of cultivar labels - 'Stricta', 'Siamensis', '53B', 'Compact', 'Thailand', 'Parvifolia' - which differ mainly in leaf width and how densely they branch; care is essentially identical for all of them. It is one of the most widely stocked aquarium plants in Lithuania, sold by six of the nine shops in our Lithuanian audit.
Care
Plant single stems a few centimetres apart in a nutrient-rich substrate, give medium light and a routine macro plus micro fertiliser; CO2 is optional but noticeably speeds growth. Left alone it simply keeps climbing and grows out of the water, so top it every few weeks and replant the cuttings to keep it bushy. Its large soft leaves are an easy target for goldfish, large cichlids and other plant-eaters.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Temple Plant need?
- Temple Plant does best at 18–30 °C (64.4–86 °F), pH 5.5–8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
- Where should Temple Plant be placed in the aquarium?
- Temple Plant works best at the back of the tank and reaches around 50 cm.
- Is the Temple Plant suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Temple Plant is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.