🌿 Basic Overview

• Scientific Name: Hygrophila pinnatifida

• Common Name: Pinnatifid Hygrophila

• Family: Acanthaceae

• Origin: India (native to southern and western regions)

• Type: Rhizomatous stem plant / rooted epiphyte

🌱 Appearance

• Leaves:

  • Deeply lobed and fern-like, creating a unique texture.

  • Upper surface is olive-green to reddish-brown, often with bronze tones.

  • Underside is rich burgundy or purplish-red.

• Stem: Strong, creeping horizontally before growing vertically.

• Size: Leaves can reach 4–8 cm long; total plant height 10–25 cm depending on trimming and conditions.

• Growth Form: Can grow both rooted in substrate or attached to hardscape (driftwood, rocks).

💧 Tank Conditions

🌾 Growth & Maintenance

• Growth Rate: Moderate; faster with strong light and CO₂.

• Form: Spreads horizontally by side shoots before producing vertical stems.

• Trimming:

  • Trim vertical stems regularly to promote horizontal creeping and bushy form.

  • Remove older lower leaves if shaded.

• Propagation:

  • Cut side shoots or tops and replant, or attach to hardscape for rooting.

• Placement: Midground or attached to wood/rocks; works well as a transition plant between foreground and background.

🌈 Color & Health Tips

1. Provide strong lighting to bring out red and bronze hues.

2. Maintain steady CO₂ (20–30 ppm) for dense, healthy growth.

3. Supply iron and micronutrients for vivid color.

4. Avoid sudden nutrient or CO₂ drops — may cause melting or stunting.

5. Keep moderate water flow to prevent algae on leaf surfaces.

🧪 Propagation

• Method: Cuttings or side shoots.

• Side shoots naturally emerge from the main stem; these can be trimmed and replanted or attached elsewhere.

• The plant easily anchors itself to rocks and driftwood with its roots.

🌍 Aquascaping Use

• Highly decorative plant due to its unique leaf shape and dual coloration.

• Works beautifully in Nature-style and Dutch-style aquascapes.

• Excellent for midground placement or attached to hardscape to add texture.

• Combines well with:

  • Bolbitis heudelotii (fern-like harmony)

  • Anubias nana petite (contrast in leaf shape)

  • Rotala rotundifolia or Ludwigia repens (color balance).

⚠️ Challenges

• Can melt if newly introduced or if CO₂/light is unstable.

• Sensitive to drastic changes in parameters.

• Needs trimming to prevent over-shading by upper leaves.

🪴 Quick Summary