Description
Plant Profile
Meet Ludwigia Crystal, an extraordinarily rare and sophisticated aquatic stem plant native to the rivers and bogs of Central and South America! Belonging to the Ludwigia inclinata family, this variety is prized for its delicate leaves that showcase a stunning array of orange, salmon, and translucent pink hues. Best suited for midground and background placement in high-tech setups, it requires high lighting, rich nutrients, and robust CO2 injection to reach its full potential. Under proper conditions, it is a fast grower, easily reaching heights of 12” to 16”+, making routine trimming essential to sculpt it into a striking, high-contrast focal point that breaks up traditional green aquascapes.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
Unusually translucent, crystal-toned foliage offers exceptional color contrast against green stem plants.
Fast-growing stem habit readily branches after trimming to create a dense, colorful midground or background accent.
Care & Planting Instructions
Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers before parting it out into manageable portions.
Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant small stem clusters 1 inch apart into aquarium soil.
Provide medium-to-high lighting and pressurized CO2 injection; consistent fertilization with a specialized liquid macro and micro formula yields robust stem growth and prevents bottom leaf yellowing.
Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden parameter swings to prevent stem melting or rotting.
Trim main stem tops with sharp straight scissors once they reach the desired height, and replant trimmings directly into substrate to propagate and thicken the bush. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Ludwigia inclinata sp. ‘Crystal’
Common Name(s)
Ludwigia Crystal, Ludwigia Inclinata Crystal
Family
Onagraceae
Plant Type / Taxonomy
Tissue Culture Stem Plant
Care Difficulty
Advanced
Light Requirement
High
CO2 Requirement
Required (Essential for leaf size and vibrant crystal coloration)
Placement / Usage
Midground / Background Focal Point
Height / Size
4–20”+ (Cup portion size: 2–3”)
Growth Rate
Fast
Water Parameters
pH 4.5–7.0
Propagation Method
Cuttings (Cut stem tops or lateral shoots and replant)
Origin
Central & South America
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining strong light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. How do I achieve a thick, bushy forest with Ludwigia Crystal?
To encourage Ludwigia Crystal to form a dense hedge, routinely trim the main stem tops once established. Each cut site will sprout multiple lateral side shoots, doubling the stem density and creating a tight, bushy group.
3. How do I prepare Ludwigia Crystal Tissue Culture before planting?
Carefully remove the gel from the roots by washing the plant in a bowl of room-temperature water or gently rinsing it under a tap. Once the gel is removed, separate the cluster into smaller clumps or individual stems and plant them into substrate using fine pinsettes.
