Crypt Wendtii Mi Oya

The Plant
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Mi Oya', a crypt known only from the Mi Oya river in Sri Lanka. Its red-brown leaves have a lightly hammered texture and grow 20 to 35 cm long, in rosettes 15 to 30 cm across. In the wild it lives in warm streams over 30°C, so it handles high temperatures well.

Comes as a Tropica tissue culture cup: grown in lab gel, so it arrives free of snails, algae, pests and pesticides. Rinse off the gel and split it into small portions to plant.

Plant Care
Type: Rosette
Origin: Asia
Growth rate: Medium
Height: 20 to 30+ cm (after about two months)
Light: Low
CO2: Low

Planting Tips
Leave it room to spread, since one plant can reach 15 to 30 cm wide. Crypts feed mostly through their roots, so a root tab near the base helps.

Why Shrimp Keepers Like It
Once rooted it stays put, and shrimp graze the biofilm on its textured leaves and shelter under the wide rosette.

Photos from AquascapeGuide's Etsy shop, used with permission.

Information sourced from AquascapeGuide