Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia' key facts

Growing Difficulty

Intermediate

Lifespan

Perennial; maintained by cuttings

Size

10–20 cm tall, 6–15 cm wide

Temperature

24〜28℃

Watering

Needs CO2 and good nutrition

Lighting

Strong light gives the creeping habit and red-brown colour; weak light does not.

CO2 & Fertilizer

Needs CO2 (roughly 25–40 mg/L); good nutrition deepens the colour.

Water Temperature & Quality

Optimum 24–28°C in soft (KH 0–7°dH), slightly acidic water (pH 4.5–7).

Substrate & Attachment

Emersed plants take time to switch to submerged growth. Plant in the fore- or midground.

Trimming & Propagation

Pinching the tips promotes branching and keeps it bushy; cuttings can be replanted.

Cautions

The emersed plant you buy looks very different from the submerged form. Never release plants into the wild.

About Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia' is a small aquatic plant with reddish-brown, thread-like leaves and a pale midrib, spreading low under strong light and maintained through regular trimming and replanting.

7 things to know before growing Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

1. 1Give It Strong Light

   Without strong light, Araguaia tends to stretch upward and lose its reddish-brown coloring. Bright light encourages the stems to creep low and branch freely, producing a dense, compact form. Place it in the foreground or midground where light reaches well.

2. 2Use a Nutrient-Rich Substrate

   Nutrient-rich substrate supports healthy stem growth, since the plant also draws nourishment through its roots. When planting, bury the base firmly so the stems don't float loose. This substrate care is part of why the species suits intermediate keepers.

3. 3CO2 Injection Is Needed

   This plant needs CO2 injection, at roughly 25-40 mg/L. With CO2 and ample nutrients, the reddish-brown leaves deepen in color and, under strong light, it takes on its natural low, creeping growth habit.

4. 4Trim Regularly

   Under good conditions the plant branches readily and can grow dense enough that inner leaves get shaded out. Trimming back the longer stems periodically keeps light and water flow reaching the whole clump.

5. 5Maintain by Replanting Cuttings

   As a perennial, Araguaia is typically maintained by replanting trimmed cuttings back into the substrate — a technique known as 'sashimodoshi.' Older stems can lose rooting vigor over time, so refreshing the planting with younger cuttings helps keep it healthy.

6. 6Keep Water Parameters Stable

   Like most aquatic plants, Araguaia does best when water parameters and temperature stay stable rather than swinging suddenly. Matching the temperature of new water before a water change helps minimize stress on the plant.

7. 7Picking a Good Specimen

   Look for clear reddish-brown coloring and a bright, well-defined pale midrib running through the leaves — good indicators of condition. Stems that look thin and stretched may have grown under insufficient light, so plants with tightly spaced nodes are generally a better pick.

Frequently asked questions about Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

Q.Is this plant suitable for beginners?

A.Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia' is generally regarded as better suited to intermediate keepers, since good results depend on understanding its light and CO2 needs. It's a good plant to try once you have some basic aquatic-plant experience.

Q.How large does it grow?

A.It's a small plant, reaching roughly 10-20cm in height and 6-15cm in width. Under strong light it tends to spread sideways, so it helps to plan layout space with that width in mind.

Q.Does the name 'Araguaia' come from a river in Brazil?

A.Yes, the name is said to reference the Araguaia River in Brazil. However, the plant itself is generally considered native to Asia, so the name and its actual origin don't quite match.

Q.How do you propagate or maintain the plant long-term?

A.The usual method is 'sashimodoshi' — replanting trimmed cuttings back into the substrate. Since it's a perennial, repeating this process lets you maintain the plant over the long term.

Q.Why does the reddish-brown leaf color fade?

A.Fading color is usually a sign of insufficient light, and it often comes with stretched, leggy stems. Provide strong light along with CO2 injection and ample nutrients to bring out the plant's natural reddish-brown tone.

Handy Growing Tools for Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'

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