Genus:
Cyperus (Cyprus grasses)
Type:
Cyperus helferi
Family:
Cyperaceae (sedges)
Hometown:
Southeast Asia, mainly in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia
Height of root with plant:
up to 50 centimeters
Light:
thrives best in partial shade with strong to very strong lighting
Temperature:
22 to 28 degrees Celsius
Growth:
very slow to slow
pH:
slightly acidic at 5.0 to 7.5
Degree of hardness:
very soft to hard
Co2:
no supply necessary, but supports growth a lot
propagation:
via division of the plant or adventitious plants
Difficulty:
medium, suitable for advanced users
Location in the aquarium:
in the middle to background, preferably in partial shade under larger plants, roots or design elements
Look
JMK, Cyperus albostriatus, bloeiwyses, Skeerpoort, CC BY-SA 3.0
As the name suggests, the Cyprus grass has a grassy appearance with long, narrow leaves that stand in dense tufts. A full-grown tuft of grass can have up to 50 leaves.
The leaves of the Cyprus grass adapt to the conditions in the aquarium and can then become quite soft. When there is a water current in the aquarium, the leaves of Cyperus helperi sway with the movement, which, if the plant has enough space, looks very beautiful and elegant and enhances the overall appearance of the aquarium. In optimal conditions, the plant can grow up to 50 centimeters high, but even then it does not grow beyond the aquarium because the leaves then float on the water surface. Cyperus helfer plants usually reach a width of 15 to 25 centimeters.
distribution
The species Cyperus Helferi originally comes from tropical Southeast Asia, where it is found particularly in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. There it grows in slow-flowing to stagnant waters of shallow depth, such as rivers, streams, ditches, lakes and ponds. In Germany, Cyperus Helferi is not hardy and is therefore hardly suitable for use in the garden pond. Cyperus helferi can be propagated by dividing the plants, but also via adventitious plants. The latter form after some time near the mother plant and initially have the appearance of a dense clump of leaves. These adventitious plants should be removed to avoid unwanted proliferation of Cyperus helpers in the aquarium.
husbandry conditions
Since this Cyprus grass is an originally tropical plant, it likes it nice and warm in the aquarium, it grows best at temperatures of 24 to 28 degrees Celsius. It is not necessary to provide the plant with additional CO2, but an addition stimulates growth enormously. This Cyprus grass does best in slightly acidic waters with a pH of 5.0 to 7.5 and needs a lot of light, but it does best in semi-shade with other plants or roots.
particularities
The species Cyperus helferi is the first cypergrass species to be cultivated in an aquarium.