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Bacopa Compacta care guide

Bacopa Compacta (Bacopa caroliniana 'Compact') — medium light, 20-28 °C, pH 6-7.5, no CO2.

Overview

Bacopa Compacta (Bacopa caroliniana 'Compact') is a broad-leaved plant of the family Plantaginaceae, grown as an aquarium plant. Compact selection of Bacopa caroliniana with shorter internodes and copper-bronze tones under stronger light. Reliable midground stem plant for low-tech and high-tech setups.

Taxonomy

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

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: medium
  • CO2: not required
  • Temperature: 20-28 °C (68-82 °F)
  • pH: 6-7.5
  • GH: 3-14 °dGH
  • Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil
  • Maximum height: 20 cm
  • Growth rate: medium
  • Nutrient demand: medium
  • 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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