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Downoi, Pogostemon helferi

Plant · Stem

Downoi

Pogostemon helferi · Thailand and Myanmar · also Dao-noi, little star

Photo: S.Tanaka, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Needs good light and a rich substrate to spread; in poor conditions it just sits there or slowly melts. Plant it firmly, because it floats up easily.

At a glance

Light

Medium light

CO₂

CO₂ helps

Growth

Steady growth

Where it goes

Front

Temperature

20–25°C

pH

6–7.5

Height in a tank

5–10 cm 2–4 in

Difficulty

Some care

What it does for your tank

Curly star-shaped leaves form a compact, unusual foreground patch.

Fish that eat or uproot it

Mostly left alone; goldfish and digging cichlids may uproot it.

Growing more

Cut off side shoots once they have small roots and replant them.

Grows well with

Same light and temperature, but a different spot in the tank, so they fill it out together.

African water fern

African water fern

Plant · RhizomeSome care

  • Medium light
  • CO₂ helps
  • Slow growth
  • On wood, rock
  • 22–26°C

Dark, see-through fronds give cover and suit river-style tanks.

Tropical Africa

African water fern

Bolbitis heudelotii

Tropical Africa

Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7
Height
6–16 in · 15–40 cm
Light
Medium
CO₂
Helps
Growth
Slow
Goes
On wood or rock
Difficulty
Some care

More plants. Split the creeping rhizome.

Almost nothing eats its tough fronds; plecos and cichlids usually leave it alone.

Full care guide

Photo: Tsunamicarlos, Public domain

Ambulia

Ambulia

Plant · StemEasy

  • Medium light
  • CO₂ helps
  • Fast growth
  • Back
  • 22–26°C

Its soft, feathery stems give fry and small fish cover and soak up nutrients that algae would use.

South and Southeast Asia

Ambulia

Limnophila sessiliflora

South and Southeast Asia

Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Height
6–16 in · 15–40 cm
Light
Medium
CO₂
Helps
Growth
Fast
Goes
Back
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Cut off the top of a stem and push it into the substrate; it also sends out runners.

Goldfish, silver dollars and other plant-eating fish will graze the soft leaves.

Full care guide

Photo: kajuko, CC BY-SA 3.0

Anacharis

Anacharis

Plant · StemEasy

  • Medium light
  • No CO₂
  • Fast growth
  • Back
  • 16–24°C

Fast growth soaks up nutrients and helps keep algae down in a new tank.

Southeastern South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay)

Anacharis

Elodea densa

Southeastern South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay)

Temperature
16–24°C
pH
6–8
Height
16–39 in · 40–100 cm
Light
Medium
CO₂
Not needed
Growth
Fast
Goes
Back
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Cut a piece of stem and plant it or let it float; it roots anywhere.

Goldfish, silver dollars, many cichlids and crayfish eat it readily.

Full care guide

Photo: Ernst Schütte, CC BY-SA 3.0

Aponogeton crispus

Aponogeton crispus

Plant · BulbEasy

  • Medium light
  • No CO₂
  • Fast growth
  • Back
  • 24–30°C

Long wavy leaves fill the back of a big tank and often flower in the aquarium.

Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh

Aponogeton crispus

Aponogeton crispus

Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh

Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6–7.5
Height
12–24 in · 30–60 cm
Light
Medium
CO₂
Not needed
Growth
Fast
Goes
Back
Difficulty
Easy

More plants. Split the bulb or grow it from seed after it flowers.

Goldfish, silver dollars and some cichlids eat the soft leaves; plecos may rasp them.

Full care guide

Photo: Drhyperlaur at English Wikipedia, Public domain

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