Plants
Hygrophila 'Araguaia'
Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'
Origin: 'Araguaia' is a trade name for a compact hygrophila now attributed to the Asian species Hygrophila lancea (Japan, Hong Kong), although it is sold under the name of the Brazilian river Araguaia. The plant's taxonomy was long disputed.
Also known as: Hygrophila sp. 'Araguaia', Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'
Fact sheet
- Height
- 15 cm
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Lighting
- High
- CO₂
- Required
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Midground, Foreground
Overview
Hygrophila 'Araguaia' is a refined slow-growing plant with narrow lanceolate leaves that take on a striking red-brown and bronze tone under strong light and CO2. Unlike its undemanding relatives, Araguaia is demanding: it needs bright light, CO2, and rich nutrition, or it declines and loses colour. It is a tricky but highly decorative midground plant for advanced aquascapers. It forms compact branching clumps.
Appearance
Low branching stems bear opposite narrow lanceolate leaves 3–6 cm long. Colour ranges from olive-green to deep red-brown and bronze under bright light and good nutrition. Height is 10–15 cm. The plant is more compact and smaller than most hygrophilas.
Care
Demanding: it needs strong light, mandatory CO2, 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, and soft water. Rich nutrient substrate and regular fertilisation (iron, macro- and micronutrients) matter. It grows slowly; under insufficient light and nutrition it degrades.
Fertilizing
It actively takes nutrients through roots and leaves. Iron and micronutrients are critical for colour, macronutrients and CO2 for growth. It needs stable, rich nutrition.
Breeding
It propagates by top cuttings; the remaining stem puts out side shoots. Because of slow growth it spreads gradually.
Fun facts
Despite the Brazilian 'Araguaia' trade name, the plant is, per the Smithsonian Institution, attributed to the Asian species Hygrophila lancea. The red-bronze colour is a direct indicator of sufficient light and CO2. It is one of the trickier hygrophilas.