Staurogyne Repens (Staurogyne repens) Care Guide

A compact foreground plant with stiff green leaves that grows in a low bushy form. Relatively undemanding for a foreground plant, doing well even without CO2 in moderate lighting.

Overview

Staurogyne repens is an aquatic plant in the family Acanthaceae. A compact foreground plant with stiff green leaves that grows in a low bushy form. Relatively undemanding for a foreground plant, doing well even without CO2 in moderate lighting.

Taxonomy

Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Staurogyne
Scientific name: Staurogyne repens
Other names: S. Repens

Habitat

Native to Brazil, originally collected along the Cristalino River in the Amazon basin. In nature it forms low creeping stands on damp riverbanks; submerged growth produces a uniformly bright green carpet.

Growth requirements

Light: medium (≈50-80 PAR at substrate)
CO2: optional (CO2 improves growth and coloration)
Temperature: 20-28 °C
pH: 6-7.5
GH: 3-10 °dGH
Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil or fertilised gravel
Nutrient demand: medium
Growth rate: slow
Difficulty: intermediate

Placement

Recommended placement: foreground
Maximum height: 10 cm
Trim every: 21 days

Propagation

In cultivation the plant is propagated by stem cuttings (replant the upper portion after trimming).