How much light does Water Wisteria need?

Medium light, around 30–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.

Does Water Wisteria need CO₂?

It is optional. Marked "optional": with CO₂ it grows faster and tighter, without it still does fine.

What water does Water Wisteria want?

22–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 10 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

How fast does Water Wisteria grow, and where does it go?

Growth rate: fast. Placement: midground / background. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 20–40 cm. Difficulty: beginner.

G-02 / 11Freshwater

Water Wisteria水芹

Hygrophila difformis · Acanthaceae

Its leaves change from deeply divided to broad and oval when light runs short, which makes it the clearest light gauge in the hobby.

Illustration to come

G-02 / 11 · Water Wisteria Hygrophila difformis

SpecificationsPlant atlas

Name: 水芹
Scientific name: Hygrophila difformis
Family: Acanthaceae
Origin: Marshes and rice fields of South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Myanmar)
Light: Medium light
PAR: 30–60
CO₂: Optional
Hardness: 2–12 dGH
Growth: Fast
Placement: Midground / Background
Substrate: Substrate required
Height: 20–40 cm
Level: Beginner

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.22–28 °C

pH6–7.5

Hardness2–12 dGH

Alkalinity1–8 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Growing notes

1Submersed leaves are deeply feathered and turn broad and entire under weak light or low nitrogen, so the state of the plant shows at a glance.
2It grows five to ten centimetres a week, so top it at least weekly and replant the cuttings.
3Potassium shortage holes the old leaves and iron shortage yellows the new ones, and both show up unusually fast on this plant.
4Leave a stump with one or two leaf pairs and it branches from the leaf axils, so the more often you trim the denser it grows.
5It is not fussy about substrate but feeds heavily, so add root tabs when it is densely planted; it looks best in soft, slightly acid water.

Frequently asked questions

How much light does Water Wisteria need?: Medium light, around 30–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.
Does Water Wisteria need CO₂?: It is optional. Marked "optional": with CO₂ it grows faster and tighter, without it still does fine.
What water does Water Wisteria want?: 22–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 10 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
How fast does Water Wisteria grow, and where does it go?: Growth rate: fast. Placement: midground / background. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 20–40 cm. Difficulty: beginner.