| Water Wisteria is a very easy to grow plant for | | | | nutrients. The effect this has on bacteria and |
| a beginner, but has more demanding needs than | | | | algae is to deprive them of much of the nutrients |
| that of other aquarium plants such as Java Fern, | | | | they need for growth, even though they will have |
| Java Moss or Anubias. However, many people | | | | plenty of light for photosynthesis, starving them |
| grow Water Wisteria successfully with little or no | | | | to death before they can become an annoyance. |
| experience of planted aquariums previously. | | | | Nutrient rich water and substrate is important for |
| Water Wisteria is from the Acanthus family and is | | | | this plant to get the best results from it, as it will |
| known by the latin name of "Hygrophila difformis". | | | | uptake nutrients through its roots and from the |
| It is widely regarded as being very easy to grow | | | | water column. Although they are not strictly |
| and prefers an environment where it can get a | | | | necessary, Water Wisteria should benefit from |
| large amount of light, but will grow slowly under | | | | Co2 injections and liquid water fertilizers. Applying |
| less favourable conditions. In natural environments | | | | a liquid water fertilizer, particularly one containing |
| it is normally found in marshy habitats on the | | | | Iron, would only be necessary roughly once a |
| Indian subcontinent where it can easily be | | | | week. It is a good idea to note that regular |
| identified by finely branched light green leaves and | | | | pruning may be necessary if conditions are very |
| flowering above water. The temperature of the | | | | good for this plant as to keep it from overtaking |
| water also serves to determine the shape of the | | | | the aquarium. |
| leaves, when the temperature is higher they will | | | | Due to its size it makes an excellent place for fry |
| grow larger with more space between them than | | | | to hide, growing to be anywhere between twenty |
| they would do in colder temperatures. | | | | to fifty centimeters with a width of roughly |
| Although lighting conditions have to be more | | | | fifteen to twenty five centimeters. In less than |
| intense than than of other easy to keep plants | | | | optimum lighting conditions it can still do very well, |
| such as the previously mentioned Java Fern, | | | | depending on exposure, in a nutrient high |
| Water Wisteria is still very easy to keep. High light | | | | environment even in low light it may be |
| conditions do have the affect of encouraging | | | | necessary to prune once a month. Cuttings which |
| cyanobacteria and algae growth in aquariums, but | | | | are taken at this time are normally easily |
| this is offset by Water Wisteria's high uptake of | | | | propagated into new plants. |