Cryptocoryne parva

Cryptocoryne parva is the smallest Crypt. It is native to Sri Lanka where it grows at the edges and in the shallow water of fast flowing rivers. It forms dense, extended lawns with its underground runners. This species forms the hybrid Cryptocoryne x willisii with species from the same area such as C. beckettii. It is known in the aquarium hobby for a long time and belongs to the standard range of the water plant nurseries.
In its terrestrial form, the Small Water Trumpet gets to about 10 cm high, but it reaches mostly 2 to 5 cm under aquarium conditions. Its leaves are coarse and medium to dark green. The emersed plants have broadly lanceolate leaf blades while the submerged leaves are considerably narrower. With strong lighting, the leaves tend to spread horizontally where they are rather upright when shaded. Otherwise it is one of the few Cryptocoryne whose leaf colour and shape does not change significantly when the environment changes.

The Small Water Trumpet needs some time for acclimation and grows very slowly. It needs more light than many other Cryptocoryne species, however medium lighting and an open place are sufficient. Cryptocoryne parva benefits much from nutrient supply via the substrate and CO₂ addition. Its temperature optimum lies between 23 and 28 °C. It needs some patience to grow a lawn from this plant. If possible, split emersed or in-vitro plants into smaller portions and plant them few centimetres apart into the ground. Favourable conditions provided, it gradually starts to develop underground runners. One may expect a coherent carpet after around six mohths.

This smallest of all Cryptocoryne is a recommendable, very slowly growing foreground plant that is also suitable for nano aquariums. It looks also nice in the spots where the hardscape borders on the substrate. Cryptocoryne parva should also be interesting as an emersed plant in paludariums and Wabi-Kusa where one may expect its tiny inflorescences with dark purple spathe.

• Family Name : Araceae
• Origin : Sri Lanka
• Height : 2-4”
• pH : 6-7.5
• Temperature : 20-29°C

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