Narrow-Leaf Pogostemon

The Plant
A tall background stem plant with long, slim, needle-like leaves that turn bright green once it settles in. This narrow-leaf form is easier to grow than the regular type, and it gets big and healthy without added CO2 as long as it has decent light.

Plant Care
Type: stem plant · Origin: Southeast Asia and northern Australia · Height: up to 18 in · Light: moderate · CO2: not required · Temp: 75–82°F · pH: 5.7–7.8

Planting Tips
Plant it at the back of a tank of 15 gallons or more, stems a little apart. Trim often and replant the cut tops.

Why Shrimp Keepers Like It
A thick stand of stems gives shrimplets and shy shrimp plenty of cover, and all those fine leaves collect biofilm for grazing. Like other stem plants, it takes up nitrate as it grows, which helps keep water clean between changes.

Listed as “Pogostemon Stellatus (Narrow-Leaf)” on AquaticMotiv.

Photos © AquaticMotiv, used with credit.

Information sourced from AquaticMotiv