Growing_Crypts

Introduction:
The genus Cryptocoryne, described by Fischer in 1828, is one of the most popular and interesting groups of aquatic plants available to be grown by aquarists. They are also one of the most enigmatic; as many believe they are difficult to grow under artificial conditions such as in aquaria. Admittedly, some of the more sensitive species may be difficult if not given the right conditions to grow in, but most are quite hardy species with a tremendous will to live as long as one employs a little patience and some basic rules of thumb (We will discuss this later).
The name Cryptocoryne, is from the Greek words cryptos- hidden, and koryne- club, refers to the club shaped spadix hidden in the inflated basal section (i.e. kettle) of the spathe. The genus belongs to the family Araceae with other familiar genera such as Spathephylum, Anubia's and Lagenandra.
Presently there are 58 recognized species of Cryptocoryne, of which approximately half are cultivated in Australia by enthusiasts. There is a great deal of confusion regarding the taxonomy of the genus. A number of species described have been subsequently found to be different forms of previously described species and thus the later (incorrect) names are reduced as synonyms. Recent chromosomal work by the Danish Botanist, N. Jacobsen, has found that certain previously well established and distinct species are actually the same species or groups of “subspecies” (known as cytotypes), although they remain morphologically different both floristically and vegetatively (e.g. C. cordata = C blassil = C. siamensis, although they have different coloured and shaped flowers and leaves).
Cryptocoryne's are generally small to medium, amphibious, perennial herbs that reproduce vegetatively by runners, and sexually by trumpet shaped flowers (spathe) pollinated by small flying insects. All species can be grown out of water (emersed), but some have a distinct preference for growing in the submersed state (C. aponogetifolia, C. balansae, C.retrospiralis). Conversely, other species prefer to grow in the emersed state (e.g. C. ciliata, C. lingua, C. costata, C. auriculata). Most species of Cryptocoryne will flower and propagate vegetatively more readily in the emersed state.
The genus is found through out much of South East Asia from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, down through the Malaysian Peninsula, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Yet no species is found throughout this range, as all species have relatively restricted distributions. Furthermore, certain sterile species or "varieties"(e.g. varieties of C. wendtii), which only reproduce vegetatively, may be endemic to a particular river or even streams. This feature is rare in aquatic plants as they typically have a high dispersive capacity.

Growing Cryptocoryne:
If we are to grow Cryptocoryne's successfully we must attempt to simulate the conditions that they would experience in nature. Yet when we consider these natural rivers and streams, they may vary considerably. Also, we find that very few Cryptocoryne's species are found growing together in the same area with other species. Therefore, one might find that in the aquarium, under a particular set of conditions, some species will flourish better than others. One final point to remember is that the conditions that cryptocoryne's are exposed to in Southeast Asian Rivers and streams vary little. Even during the monsoonal months when rivers are in full good, water and light conditions do not alter significantly. Consequently when we place crypts in highly dynamic aquaria where the water and light conditions change dramatically over short periods of time, the plants cannot adjust their tissue physiology accordingly so they perish Usually this shows up as localized (necrosis dead spots) occasionally resulting in the death of the entire plant. This leads us to probably the most important rules of growing cryptocoryne's: STABILITY! If the conditions in which the plants are growing under are relatively stable without sudden changes in temperature, water chemistry, light intensity and duration, etc., then growth will be good although somewhat slow, especially in the initial stages where plants often take 8 months to settle down before growing.

A Brief Introduction to Plant Growth:
A few fundamental rules to consider when growing aquatic plants. These should be addressed by any "fishkeeper" that wishes to graduate to the ranking of “aquarist" by growing aquatic plants successfully as well.
Plant growth is dependent upon several essential factors, which govern the plants growth rate directly and indirectly, according to their levels and availability to the plant.
They are divided as follows:

Primary-	Temperature	Secondary-	Substrate Nature
	Light		Water Chemistry
	Nutrients		Pests/Disease
			Competition

Primary factors directly affect the mechanisms of plant growth. Secondary factors indirectly affect or moderate these growth mechanisms by affecting:

(i) Plant health
(ii) Plant physiology
(iii) Availability of primary factors,

Availability of primary factors may be for example, via reduction of available light or nutrients through competition from other plants or algae, or water chemistry limiting the availability of carbon dioxide to the plant, or an aerobic substrate (caused by an undergravel filter) limiting the availability of trace elements to the aquatic plants roots.
Plant growth can be defined using the Liebig "Law of the Minimum" which states that: “the growth of a plant is dependent upon the foodstuff presented to it in minimum quantities..” i.e. a limiting factor (i.e. primary and secondary factors = growth limiting factors). (Salisbury and Ross, 1992) Therefore we can say that if one or more limiting factor is less than optimal for plant growth then growth rate will be dependent upon the level of that factor/s, irrespective if all other limiting factors are optimal,
Remember, there is a lot of difference between the average plant growth rate found in 99.9% of aquariums, end the great growth found in only a few. Example: The most common “crypt” found in 90% of aquaria is Cryptocoryne wendtii var. wendtii. In an average aquarium it is 5-10 cm tall. In a great aquarium it is 25-30crn tall with twice as many leaves and multiplies prolifically! How tall is yours?

Aspects of Cryptocoryne growth:
(Most of the following refers to growing plants in the submersed state.)

Temperature:
Cryptocoryne's are tropical plants and therefore experience warm temperatures with very little fluctuation all year round. You should try and maintain a constant aquarium temperature of around 25-28 Celsius. Lower temperatures normally result in slowed growth. Avoid sharp fluctuations in temperature normally experienced in winter or during water changes with cold water as this may bring on "crypt-rot' A warm substrate is very desirable and enhances growth in all plants by speeding up the metabolic processes occurring in the root system including nutrient uptake. Some of the more delicate "crypts" respond well to this. This is where a under Gravel Heater is of great importance.

Light:
Light requirements depend on the species, but most require low to moderate lighting. The amount of light will dictate the size, number and shape of the leaves and the height of the plant. Filtered natural light is best if available. Emersed plants will endure higher light levels than submersed forms. Yet to much light and both emersed end submersed plants will display characteristic symptoms of leaves remaining small and lying flat against the substrate giving the plant a prostrate appearance. Sudden changes in light levels will bring on rot in sensitive species such as C. affinis.

Nutrients:
The streams where cryptocoryne's are native are typically low in dissolved nutrients. All nutrients are supplied to the plant through the root system embedded in this iron rich, muddy substrate and importantly, from constant slow leeching into the streams from springs. These springs maintain constant, low levels of nutrients in the streams to be absorbed by the plants. Consequently in the aquarium, cryptocoryne's prefer an. iron rich substrate with a high organic component, and relatively nutrient poor water.
Additional iron may be added to the water in a chelated form (as Fe-EDTA) to supplement any iron deficiencies, which show up in the youngest leaves as pale chlorotic markings (monitor levels with a test kit). Carbon dioxide (C02) fertilizing is highly recommended for all cryptocoryne's as it proves to be a major limiting factor of "crypt" growth in aquaria. C02 is the main building block for plant growth via photosynthesis and yet it is often deficient in aquaria due to aeration.

Substrate nature:
The characteristics of the substrate are particularly important for the submerged and emergent plants where the roots are embedded in the substrate. They will affect the availability of nutrients in the substrate and the ability of the roots to take up those nutrients. This is Why I have Setup my Aquariums like This. The characteristics, which will have the greatest effect on plant growth, are:

-pH
temperature relative to water temperature
-substrate depth
-grade/size of gravel,etc.
-substrate inertness
-oxygen reduction potential (0. R. P) (i.e. anaerobic vs. aerobic)

Submersed plants of all specie grow well in a fine, sandy substrate with a high organic component preferably detritus found in a well aged aquarium The following recipe has been used successfully to grow cryptocoryne's both emersed and submersed.

Fine, sifted river sand-	7 parts
Peat	1 part
Laterite (red soil)	1 part
Potting Mix	1 part
Slow release fertilisers -	1 handful per bucket load

Water Chemistry and C02 fertilization:
Water chemistry does not matter too much as long as the various parameters such as pH, nutrients, and hardness are within reasonable limits. Cryptocoryne's are grown successfully (and commercially) in bore water, where the water hardness and pH are well outside the range of conditions experienced by cryptocoryne's in their native habitat- More important than the actual composition of the water is stability once again. The easiest way to avoid sudden changes in water chemistry and thus maintaining a relatively stable environment is by doing a regular 10% to 20% water change. One method is to keep two 4 litre containers next to the aquarium (e.g. 100 litre tank), one empty the other full of aged water (24 hours) At feeding time once daily 4 litre's is taken out and replaced by the 4 litre's of aged water. Carbon dioxide fertilization is highly desirable for growing all aquatic plants. I won't discuss the chemistry of this process as it can be found in most aquaria books available, but the fact that plant growth is usually increased by about 100% using C02 fertilization cannot be denied.

Fish:
Most small to small-medium non-herbivorous fish are compatible with cryptocoryne's. Burrowing fish can be a problem as crypts require long time to develop a extensive root system which once disturbed may take up to 6 months to recover fully Algae eating fish are important too keep algae off the leaves of the plants. Juvenile Royal whiptail catfish (Sturisoma spp.) and Otocinclis spp. are very effective at keeping algae under control.