Even beginner aquarists are going to succeed with water wisteria. It is a time-tested aquarium staple that does well in most fish tanks. It has flexible light and nutrient needs. And it grows in an attractive bush form that fits into any aquascape design.
What is Water Wisteria?
Water wisteria is a member of the genus Hygrophila. There are several aquarium favorites in this family, including the dwarf hygro, giant hygro, and sunset hygro. Water wisteria is one of the most popular – yet few realize it is also a member of this fast-growing family.
As a general rule Hygrophila sp. thrive in warm temperatures and soft, acidic conditions. Water wisteria natural habitat areas include tannin-rich swamps full of decaying plant matter.
Water wisteria, like its relatives, is an amphibious plant. It grows submerged; and once it reaches the surface it continues to put out extra height.
Difformis wisteria is more flexible than other hygrophila, which all love light to fuel their fast growth. Water wisteria will still do well even when light levels are lower.
Such an adaptation is common among plants that need to grow in shade. Wisteria will bide its time, growing slowly. Only to explode once it clears the other plants or sunshine manages to break through.
- Common Names: Water Wisteria
- Scientific Name: Hygrophila difformis
- Origin: South Asia
- Growing Height: Up to 1-2 feet high
- Placement: Mid/Background, Floating, Carpeting
- Nutrient Needs/CO2: Moderate/Not Required
- Ease of Care: Very Easy
Water Wisteria Care
Water wisteria is hardy and adaptable to being planted in multiple ways. It also has beautiful fern-like leaves. Making it an excellent addition to a beginner’s planted tank. Or an expert’s aquascape.
Wisteria Water Requirements
Water wisteria plant is very easy to grow. Keep your aquarium water warm and avoid extremes in water chemistry. The water temperature should remain at 72-84℉. Soft water, with low dissolved hardness, is its preference.
The pH should remain moderate, with measurements of 6.5-7.5 being ideal for it. Lower pH levels are also fine but too much alkalinity will slow its growth.
Water wisteria has very thin roots. So planting it in a clay or sand substrate is my preference. Gravel substrates for plants will work; the water wisteria will need more time to secure its hold on the substrate.
It will put out a lot of roots to achieve this. But before then, the water wisteria plant is prone to being disturbed and knocked into the water column.
Lighting for Water Wisteria
Water wisteria does well in all light levels. As a low light plant, it does grow slowly but it won’t die. A little added carbon dioxide will ensure it continues to thrive. But like all low-light plants you need to be very patient with them.
Medium light makes a major difference in its growth rate. Water wisteria will grow quite a bit faster. Enough that you may need to trim it back once per week. The plant will still try to reach the water’s surface. But it will also bush outwards when trimmed this way.
Water wisteria is also appropriate for high light planted tanks. High light tanks encourage the plant to make even more pointed leaf shapes since less surface area is needed to capture enough light. Bright lights also keep the plant more compact; no need for it to reach high into the water column.
Water wisteria floating on the surface will get more than enough light, regardless of the power of your fixtures. Being so close to the bulbs means even weak or poor quality lights will give the plant enough illumination for photosynthesis.
Your bulbs do need to output photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), however. Not all light is usable for photosynthesis. PAR is the slice of the visible light spectrum that does the job.
Water Wisteria and Carbon Dioxide
Water wisteria does not need carbon dioxide enrichment to survive. But it makes a major difference on how well the plant does. CO2 is the main source of carbon for any plant. Without it, plants don’t have the building blocks they need for their interior structures.
Small amounts of CO2 are always present in the air thanks to animals breathing it out like humans. But CO2 is not very soluble in water.
Average concentrations in a non-CO2 enriched tank are anywhere from 2 to 5 parts per million (ppm). Water wisteria will survive on this but it will grow at a snail-like pace.
But 10 to 30 ppm will make an immediate impact on all of your plants. If you have to choose between adding brighter lights and CO2, I always recommend the CO2.
Even if you add stronger lights, your water wisteria and other plants won’t make much use of it without carbon to build their bodies with. Strong lights and no carbon dioxide is a recipe for all kinds of algae to prosper.
Water Wisteria Propagation and Maintenance
Water wisteria is grown by scientists studying heterophylly in aquatic plants. Heterophylly is a property that plants may display when transitioning between environments.
Water wisteria leaves are variable in shape. When the wisteria aquatic plant breaks the surface the leaves have a triangular, mint-like appearance.
Submerged leaves that are grown in low light conditions take on a more oval shape. The design is more efficient at gathering what little light remains. Sometimes you will see this in the lower leaves of a plant growing in medium light environments.
Heterophylly also fuels their popularity as aquarium plants.
Water Wisteria Floating on Surface
Water wisteria can be left to raft on the surface as an easy to grow floating plant. The middle stem is very durable and keeps the plant floating erect. It also may put out small violet flowers.
Bunches of thin pale roots will also trail into the water column. Helping the plant gather essential minerals and elements from the water column.
Water wisteria roots make a great place for freshwater shrimp and fish fry to hide in. The shrimp will also feed there, plucking bits of debris and algae from the roots, keeping them healthy.
Water Wisteria as a Carpeting Plant
A water wisteria carpet is one of the more unique ways to propagate this plant. It reminds me of a little star plant (Pogostemon helferi) that’s much cheaper and easier to grow.
The trick is to encourage the plant to grow in a horizontal fashion. Since wisteria tends to shoot up, that is tricky to achieve.
One way to get a water wisteria carpet is to weigh down a stem of it using lead weights. The weights will keep the plant in contact with the substrate. Fine white roots will establish themselves over time.
You will need to keep the plant trimmed, though that’s less important in very high light tanks. So long as the PAR levels are high near the substrate, the wisteria will put out lateral growth, completing your carpet.
Can You Grow Cuttings from Water Wisteria?
Yes, you can grow cuttings from water wisteria. Even a single rosette of leaves with a stem will recover from being separated from the mother plant. The rosette will soon put out rootlets and either try to attach itself to the bottom. Or it will thrive as a floating plant.
Do Fish Eat Water Wisteria?
Herbivorous fish will eat water wisteria. It is not as tough or bitter as more fish-safe plants. That said, it also grows so fast that it will outpace most nibbling. If you have medium lights and a bit of extra CO2, the plant won’t even notice.
A school of dedicated plant eating fish would be able to eat all of your water wisteria. But few fish could eat an entire healthy plant on their own. Silver dollar fish come to mind, however.
I recommend Java fern (Microsorum pteropus), anubias (anubias sp.), or African water ferns (Bolbitis sp.) if you have vegetarian aquarium fish. All of these also happen to be low light plants that don’t need carbon dioxide, either.
Conclusion
Water wisteria is one of my favorite aquarium plants. It does well in light and carbon dioxide supplemented tanks. Yet you can grow it without high light or CO2. It floats or roots, depending on your wishes. And it has a unique leaf shape that compliments any other plant variety.
FAQs
Its growth rate depends on your nutrient levels, use of carbon dioxide, and light output. In my experience, water wisteria requires trimming once per week. It puts on a few centimeters of growth and fresh leaves in one to two weeks.
Water wisteria can be used as a floating plant, a carpet plant, or a midground stem plant. It is one of the most versatile aquarium plants there are.
Water wisteria is easy to propagate. Pieces should be cut from one of the stems using sharp planting scissors. Don’t use paper scissors since they cause too much crushing. Which leads to infections that will kill the plant. Stem cuttings are left in the water to recover and grow new rootlets. Short cuttings are good for creating new floating plants. While longer cuttings are to be placed into your substrate. And held down using lead planting weights until the roots establish themselves.
