Description
Cryptocoryne spiralis ‘Red’ is one of many varieties of Cryptocoryne spiralis, commonly found in India. In the aquarium, this plant can grow to over 50 cm in height. The narrow, upright leaves are 1-1.5 cm wide with softly waved edges and sometimes a less visible green mid-stripe, depending on the conditions in the aquarium. Cryptocoryne spiralis ‘Red’ is not difficult to grow, but it requires good light and nutrition to reach its full potential.
Plant info
Type:
Rosulate
Origin:
Asia
Country or continent where a plant is the most common. Cultivars arise or are bred in cultivation.
Growth rate:
Medium
Growth rate of the plant compared to other aquatic plants.
Height:
20 – 30+
Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.
Light demand:
Medium
The average or medium light demand of an aquarium plant is 0,5 W/L.
CO2 :
Medium
A medium need in CO2 is 6-14 mg/L. A high demand in CO2 is approx. 15-25 mg/L.
Growing Cryptocoryne spiralis ‘Red’ in Singapore
This is a tall, grassy crypt that works beautifully as a mid-to-background feature, and the red form rewards good light and feeding with deeper colour in the narrow upright leaves. As with all Cryptocoryne, expect crypt melt after planting: leaves may dissolve back as the plant adjusts to your tank’s water, but the roots keep working and fresh leaves push up within a few weeks. Don’t pull it out in panic when this happens.
Our soft, slightly acidic local tap water suits crypts very well, which is why this genus is such a reliable performer in Singapore tanks. We feed it through the substrate with root tabs since it draws most nutrition through its roots, and we avoid frequent replanting because disturbance triggers another round of melt. Stable parameters beat tinkering every time with this species.
See more of the genus in our Cryptocoryne collection. For settling it in, read our Cryptocoryne spiralis care guide and our explainer on the stages of aquarium plant melting so you know what’s normal.
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