Cryptocoryne Wendtii

Author : Efrain Silva

The Cryptocoryne Wendtii comes from the Araceae plant family, and it is a very special plant indeed. It comes from Sri Lanka, first and foremost, but has recently shown up more than ever in numerous places of Florida (since it was introduced there and gained quite a following as a local plant in such a short time). This plant respectively belongs to the one and only Plantae kingdom. Some also better prefer to call it “Wendt’s water trumpet”.

This plant is also a popular herb as well and its species varies tremendously, coming in all sorts of unique forms altogether. The Wendt’s water trumpet, by the way, also makes for a great tropical aquarium plant (if you have any fish life living about in your home, think of adding in this herb - plant to make their life better, or at least give the feel of their tank being more ‘natural’). It’s best when put in small aqua tanks (not the upper - medium - sized or huge ones out there). Think 10 - gallon tanks or smaller. In height, this plant stands at a minimum of 10 inches, but make no mistake, in larger forms, it can even get up to 15…which isn’t too large but not too small either, when seeing it from inside a fish tank (Google it — see the pictures that pop up).

8-15 cm is the typical width - range of this plant’s roset, not bad at all, right? Its leaves can spread out across the bottom of any open space, when in water, making it unique as well. To further add, hard water can make this plant grow best, as has been said by experts. This plant requires very little light and CO2, which makes it an easy one to take care of, too ; it’s not like some of its ‘needier’ cousins, per se.

You may have heard runners propagate this plant often — so yes, it is growing to be more and more popular by the hour. Also, you can buy this plant in so many colors ; so if you love variety, you will love this plant. Get it in either green, brown, or even red (around the Holiday season, perhaps, the red choice could look quite nice — I had one in my house back in December of 2016).

And although I did state that hard water is ideal for this plant, soft water will also do nicely, though hard water is preferred. Either way, this plant adapts itself all too well to whatever lighting or room / water temperature conditions it happens to find itself in, making the most of what it has to grow and survive. This makes a great aqua tank foreground plant, or even a nice midground plant.

Keep in mind that this plant tends to have a rhizome ; it does need something that its roots can grab. Substrate is what people typically tend to go with, here, but that does not mean you can’t get the right wood chunk in there (and then just simply, carefully jam a crypt right into its own crevices accordingly). Have fun with your new plant!