Plants
Moneywort
Bacopa monnieri
Origin: Bacopa monnieri is found throughout the tropical and subtropical belt — in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia. It grows in marshy shallows and along shores, developing equally well submerged and emersed.
Also known as: Water hyssop, Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri
Fact sheet
- Height
- 25 cm
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- Lighting
- Medium
- CO₂
- Not needed
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Midground
Overview
Moneywort is a hardy, undemanding stem plant popular with beginners. It has small rounded fleshy leaves and slow but steady growth with no need for CO2. It tolerates a wide range of conditions, including hard and slightly brackish water. It is used as a midground plant in group plantings. It is also known as the Ayurvedic herb brahmi.
Appearance
Creeping or upright stems bear opposite small rounded fleshy leaves up to 1–2 cm long, light green. Height is up to 20–30 cm. Under bright light it is more compact and dense; under weak light it stretches. It produces small white or bluish flowers above water.
Care
Very undemanding: low to strong light, 20–30 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, a wide hardness range. CO2 is optional. It tolerates cool and slightly brackish water. A slow grower.
Fertilizing
Nutrient demand is low. Basic liquid fertilisers suffice; nutrient-rich substrate speeds growth. It responds well to micronutrients.
Breeding
It propagates by cuttings: cut tops root easily. Side shoots branch from the main stem.
Fun facts
Bacopa monnieri (brahmi) has been used for centuries in Ayurveda as a memory and nervous-system tonic. The plant grows equally well submerged and emersed. It withstands conditions lethal to most delicate plants.