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Bacopa Colorata care guide

Bacopa Colorata (Bacopa caroliniana 'Colorata') — high light, 22-28 °C, pH 5.5-7, CO2 recommended.

Overview

Bacopa Colorata (Bacopa caroliniana 'Colorata') is a broad-leaved plant of the family Plantaginaceae, grown as an aquarium plant. Colorful Bacopa cultivar developing pink-purple foliage in bright light with iron supplementation. Slower than green forms; pleasant accent in mid-to-background of high-tech tanks.

Taxonomy

  • Family: Plantaginaceae
  • Genus: Bacopa
  • Scientific name: Bacopa caroliniana 'Colorata'
  • Common synonyms: Pink Bacopa

Habitat

Bacopa is a genus of creeping marsh herbs widespread in the tropics and subtropics, rooting in wet mud at the edges of ponds, ditches and slow streams and tolerating a wide range of water hardness. In the Aquairi knowledge base this species is recorded from North America.

Growth requirements

  • Lighting: high
  • CO2: recommended
  • Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
  • pH: 5.5-7
  • GH: 3-10 °dGH
  • Substrate: aquasoil
  • Maximum height: 25 cm
  • Growth rate: medium
  • Nutrient demand: high
  • Recommended placement: midground
  • Typical trim interval: 14 days

Placement

In aquascapes this plant suits the midground. It is an undemanding midground-to-background stem plant with rounded paired leaves; slow, sturdy growth makes it forgiving in low-tech tanks.

Propagation

This species is propagated by cuttings; trimmed tops and side shoots root quickly when replanted into the substrate.

Common issues

Low light produces leggy stems with widely spaced leaves; otherwise the genus is robust and largely free of major cultivation problems.

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