Staurogyne repens

Staurogyne repens was discovered growing along the sandy banks of the Rio Cristalino in Brazil, a clear-water tributary of the Amazon system where it grows semi-emersed in full tropical sunlight. In the aquarium hobby it gained rapid popularity after being promoted by Takashi Amano's ADA brand as a foreground and low-midground plant suitable for nature aquarium compositions. Unlike true carpet plants, S. repens forms dense, branching clumps of upright and creeping stems rather than stoloniferous runners, making it easier to control and shape. Its small, oval, bright-green leaves are held on compact branches that grow no taller than about 10 cm, giving it a neat, structured appearance. The plant is moderately demanding, performing best with CO2 injection and moderate-to-high lighting, though it can survive in lower-tech setups with slower, less compact growth. It is often paired with hardscape elements such as stones or driftwood, where its compact form perfectly fills gaps and anchors the composition visually. Staurogyne repens is one of the most versatile foreground and low-midground options available and is suitable for aquarists transitioning from beginner to intermediate level.

Placement Ideal for the foreground or low-midground zones. Plant individual stems 2–3 cm apart to build a dense clump. Works beautifully around stones and driftwood bases in nature aquarium layouts.

Lighting Moderate-to-high lighting (40–70 PAR) produces compact, healthy growth. Under low light the plant grows slowly and becomes leggy. High light keeps internodes short and the plant dense.

CO2 & Fertilisation CO2 injection at 20–30 ppm significantly improves compactness and growth rate. Macro and micronutrient dosing weekly is recommended. Iron and manganese supplementation help maintain vivid green coloration.

Propagation Snip lateral branches and replant directly into substrate. Roots form within 7–10 days. The plant does not send out runners — all propagation is done by cuttings, making it easy to control its spread.

Trimming Trim tops and lateral branches every 3–4 weeks to prevent the plant from growing too tall. Trimming back by one-third stimulates bushier regrowth. Remove any yellowing leaves at the base to keep the clump healthy.