Hydrocotyle Vulgaris: Ultimate Care Guide

Owning an aquarium can be a ton of fun. Some inexperienced aquarists think that fish in said tank is the only way to make it unique, but that simply isn’t true. As most experienced aquarists can tell you, foliage in a tank is one of the easiest ways to make your tank unique and interesting. Plants can serve many purposes in a tank. They can be used as just decoration or a hiding spot for some timid fish, and some plants are even used as a source of food for the species in your tank. Regardless of what you want your flora to achieve in your tank, with a bit of research, you can find the perfect plant.

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is also known by some other names such as Marsh Pennywort, Common Pennywort, Water Naval, Money Plant, Lucky Plant, or even Copper Coin. Many of those names are likely derived from the fact that the leaves of Hydrocotyle Vulgaris are rounded, green, and small. Their shape somewhat resembles that of a coin. During the summer, the Hydrocotyle Vulgaris will begin to flower with tiny and insignificant greenish-white or purple flowers. This small creeping plant is endemic to wetlands, swamps, and marshes around Northern Africa and Europe. Some have claimed that the Hydrocotyle Vulgaris has a smell that is reminiscent of carrots and that they are completely edible.

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris Care

Growing Hydrocotyle Vulgaris in an aquarium isn’t too difficult. Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is ideal for growing in smaller tanks or even ponds. It is very versatile, you can grow Hydrocotyle Vulgaris as a floating plant, or you can grow it in soil. They do well with medium to partial light. Indirect light is best for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris; it’ll help the leaves grow full and lush. With a bit of research, anyone of any skill level can grow Hydrocotyle Vulgaris in their tank. 

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris
Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Lighting Requirement for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

In the wild, Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is found in marshes, swamps, and wetlands. Since Hydrocotyle Vulgaris grows in and around the water near the bottom of these swamps, marshes, and wetlands, they don’t receive much, if any, direct sunlight. This means that when you grow your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris in a tank setting, you want to make sure you don’t give them too much sunlight. You need to try your best to emulate their native area. A moderate amount of indirect light is the perfect amount to help your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris grow full and lush.

Temperature for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris has been known to be able to survive in a wide range of temperature conditions. The environments that Hydrocotyle Vulgaris call home are somewhat tropical, but because they grow towards the bottom of marshes, swamps, and wetlands, the temperature is lower. On average, your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris plant should be kept in temperatures between 18 to 28 degrees Celsius or 64 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. A heater can help you achieve and maintain those conditions, although it’s likely that wherever you keep your tank will already be within that temperature range.

Water pH for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

pH is an extremely important parameter of any tank, but it can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to the needs of the flora in the tank. pH levels should be monitored and checked regularly to ensure there are no fluctuations or changes. A tank that is being used to grow Hydrocotyle Vulgaris should have a pH level between 5.0 to 7.5. That wider pH range allows you more wiggle room with potential tank mates and other flora.

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris
Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Growth Rate for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is not a quick-growing plant. On average, it takes this small plant around 2 years to reach its full height. However, that number can be lowered with quality care. If you’ve planted your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris in soil, a high-quality fertilizer can be used to help increase its rate of growth. Another option to slightly speed up the growth rate of the Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is CO2 injections. CO2 injections are more useful if your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is being grown as a floating plant as opposed to being grown in soil. Despite all the possible ways to speed up the growth of Hydrocotyle Vulgaris, you’ll still likely be waiting nearly 20 months for it to be fully grown.

Growth Height for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is going to grow very slowly, regardless of how you raise it. When fully grown, a Hydrocotyle Vulgaris plant can reach heights of up to nearly 5 inches. It takes about 2 years for a Hydrocotyle Vulgaris to reach its full growth height. Hydrocotyle Vulgaris tends to grow a bit wider than it does tall. A frequent pruning routine will help make sure that your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris does not take over the entire surface of your tank with its small leaves.

CO2 Requirement for Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is a slow-growing plant. However, you can slightly speed up the growth rate. If you want to slightly speed up the growth rate of your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris, you can inject CO2 into your tank. CO2 Injections are not necessary for the growth of Hydrocotyle Vulgaris, but they will help with their growth rate.

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris Propagation

Propagating your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris isn’t difficult. All you need to do is create a clean cut of one of the stems. The cut should be a few inches long and have plenty of leaves on it. Once you’ve made the cut, you just need to leave it floating in the water. The same method can be used if you wish to plant it into your substrate. All you have to do is make the cut and then plant the cutting into the substrate.

Do Hydrocotyle Vulgaris flower?

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris is known to flower, although the flowers aren’t very big. During the summer months, your Hydrocotyle Vulgaris may begin to sprout greenish-white or purplish little flowers. These flowers are small and insignificant.

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris
Hydrocotyle Vulgaris

Where can I find Hydrocotyle Vulgaris for sale?

Hydrocotyle Vulgaris may be a bit difficult to find in person; however, you can check your local aquarium specialty store. If they don’t carry it, you can easily find Hydrocotyle Vulgaris for sale online. Several reputable sources sell Hydrocotyle Vulgaris; on average, it sells for around $9.99.