Pogostemon Quadrifolius care guide
Pogostemon Quadrifolius (Pogostemon quadrifolius) — high light, 22-28 °C, pH 5.5-7.5, CO2 recommended.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pogostemon Quadrifolius (Pogostemon quadrifolius) is an aquatic plant of the family Lamiaceae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. It is typically grown under high light with pressurised CO2 injection on any substrate. Tall stem plant with whorled, finely toothed leaves arranged in fours. Excellent vertical structure for the background; appreciates good light, CO2 and a rich substrate.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Genus: Pogostemon
- Scientific name: Pogostemon quadrifolius
- Common synonyms: Eustralis stellata
Habitat
Pogostemon is a Lamiaceae genus of marsh plants found in southern and South-East Asia, frequently growing in seasonally flooded fields and along stream margins. In the Aquairi knowledge base, populations associated with this form are recorded from Asia.
Growth requirements
- Lighting: high
- CO2: recommended
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Substrate: aquasoil
- Maximum height: 60 cm
- Growth rate: fast
- Recommended placement: background
Placement
Background stem for groups; the upright fluffy growth of stellatus and related forms creates strong vertical accents. In the Aquairi knowledge base this form is recommended for the background under high light with pressurised CO2 injection, using undefined.
Propagation
Cuttings replanted into the substrate root quickly; horizontal forms spread sideways and are divided once dense. Documented propagation techniques for this entry include: stem cuttings.
Common issues
Curling new leaves or stunted tips often indicate calcium deficiency in soft water; supplementing GH with a remineraliser corrects the issue.
Propagating Pogostemon Quadrifolius
Overview
Pogostemon quadrifolius is a tall background stem plant with fine, needle-thin leaves carried in whorls. Like other Pogostemon stem species it grows vertically in a neat, fairly compact, upright fashion and is multiplied by cuttings and topping rather than seed.
Propagation Method (Cuttings)
Pogostemon stem plants branch profusely after the apical bud is cut off and recover easily from straight pruning to form dense bushes. Removing the apical bud encourages lateral buds to develop along the stem at the internodes, so each stem branches and becomes bushier — this is the core of propagation by topping.
Step-by-Step
- Select a healthy upright stem that has reached good height.
- Cut the top 5–10 cm, removing the apical bud just above a whorl of leaves.
- Strip the lowest 2–3 cm of needle leaves from the cut tip.
- Plant each cutting deeply, 2–3 inches into the substrate, spacing them so roots have room.
- Leave the trimmed stem in place — lateral buds at the internodes will branch into new shoots.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
Higher nutrient, CO2 and light levels promote bushier growth and increased branching; branching is much more pronounced in CO2-injected aquariums. Under higher light with sufficient nutrients the needle-thin leaf tips can show a tinge of yellow. It generally is not a difficult plant to grow, but it can stunt in hard water combined with heavy water-column dosing.
Trimming & Maintenance
Cutting off the tops lets the lower part of the plant branch out several times and also aligns the tops to the same height, building an even background hedge. Trim on a short, regular cadence because this is a fast vertical grower; replant the harvested tips to expand the group. Pogostemon can also grow emersed, but the submersed needle-leaf form is what is used in aquascapes.