TCulture Bacopa Monnieri (Pot)

Description

A relatively new variant of the long-known Bacopa monnieri. It grows more compactly and branches more readily than standard B. monnieri, and under lots of light the stems have an almost creeping growth habit. This Bacopa is great as higher-growing carpet plant or as low-growing bush in the middle- and foreground.
When the vertical stems are trimmed and under good light, the plant will branch readily and throw many lateral shoots, growing low. It is as undemanding as standard B. monnieri, and it will even grow in the shade thrown by other plants. If light and CO2 supply are reduced it will develop a more vertically-oriented looser growth habit.

Synonyms
Bacopa monnieri Typ II, Bacopa monnieri Type II

Misapplied names
Hedyotis salzmannii

Trader names
Bacopa compacta

Family
Plantaginaceae

Genus
Bacopa

Difficulty
very easy

Usage
Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group

Aquascaping
well-branched, bushy

Growth
medium

pH value
5 – 9

Temperature tolerance
15 – 30°C

Carbonate hardness
2 – 30°dKH

Propagation
Cuttings

Can grow emersed?
yes

TCulture Bacopa monnieri for Singapore planted tanks

Bacopa monnieri is one of the most beginner-friendly stem plants we stock, and locally it suits keepers who want lush green growth without committing to a pressurised CO2 rig. Its thick, succulent leaves and upright habit make a tidy background or, when trimmed, a bushy mid-tank cluster. Plant the stems individually into the substrate a couple of centimetres apart so each has room to root and branch rather than shading its neighbours.

It is genuinely tolerant of our conditions, growing in the soft, slightly acidic water from SG taps and even pushing on through periods of lower light, though brighter light and a little liquid fertiliser bring out tighter, more compact growth. In our warm 27-29C tanks it grows steadily, so plan to top-and-replant the trimmings to thicken the stand. This is also a classic emersed plant, comfortable poking above an open-top rim if you let it.

Find more in our background live plants range. Our Bacopa monnieri care guide covers light and trimming, and our stem plant trim-and-replant guide shows how to build a fuller bush.