Eight-Stem Waterwort (Elatine hydropiper) Tissue Culture

Eight-Stem Waterwort is a great carpeting plant that was introduced fairly recently to the aquarium hobby. It can thrive in an exceptionally wide temperature range, from coldwater to tropical!

Eight-Stem Waterwort (Elatine hydropiper) is a carpeting foreground plant that is relatively new to the aquarium hobby. Native throughout much of Europe and Asia, it naturally grows in many quite cold areas and tolerates an extremely wide temperature in the aquarium. It can also thrive and grow as a floating mat at the surface of the water, providing refuge for fish and shrimp fry while maintaining its role as a beautiful decorative plant. It can also be grown emersed in terrariums and paludariums.

Some aquarists compare Eight-Stem Waterwort to Glosso (Glossostigma elatinoides), stating that it looks like a miniature version of Glosso. Eight-Stem Waterwort, however, has only a moderate growth rate. It requires high lighting and nutrient-rich water. CO₂ supplementation is recommended and will contribute to much faster growth and stability. This plant will regress rapidly if it does not have excellent water conditions.

Like most plants, Eight-Stem Waterwort will benefit from supplementation such as Seachem Flourish, Flourish Excel, Nitrogen and other plant supplements.  

This listing is for the tissue culture form of Eight-Stem Waterwort. Tissue cultures are superior to traditional forms of aquarium plants in many ways. They are produced in a completely sterile environment which eliminates the possibility of them carrying pest snails or algae spores. They have a shelf life (before introduction to the aquarium) of several months if properly maintained and they are housed in a nutrient gel until introduced to the aquarium. To introduce a tissue culture plant to the aquarium, simply rinse off as much nutrient gel as possible, then plant as usual. The nutrient gel will not harm your aquarium.  

What We Like About This Plant:

• Tissue cultures contain no unwanted pest animals or algae
• Thrives in an extremely wide temperature range, from coldwater to tropical
• Can be attached to almost any aquarium décor or left floating in loose form
• Provides protective cover for fry
• Covers large portions of the aquascape

Care Guidelines:

• Temperature: 39° - 79° F (4° - 26° C)
• pH: 6.0 - 7.0
• Lighting: High
• Origin: Lab-grown tissue culture, but indigenous throughout Europe and Asia
• Aquarium placement: Foreground
• Care: Difficult

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