Attitude:
very easy, well suited for beginners, relatively undemanding
Breed:
via offshoots or cuttings
Size:
only 5 to 10 centimeters high, but reaches great width through carpeting
Temperature:
20 to 26 degrees Celsius
pH:
5 to 7
GH:
0 to 30°dGH
CH:
0 to 14°dKH
Look
Izabela1958, Hydrocotyle Tripartita Japan, CC BY-SA 4.0
The plants of Hydrocotyle tripartia have a juicy light green color and are particularly characterized by their creeping growth. The plant rarely reaches a height of more than 10 centimetres, but can grow considerably in width and, in its creeping form, also spreads over stones and other plants. With optimal growth conditions and a sufficient supply of nutrients, the plant grows very quickly and multiplies independently.
The leaves of the tripartite pennywort are reminiscent of three- to five-leaf, deeply dissected shamrocks and are densely and numerously arranged on the thin stems of the plant. The three-part pennywort is particularly effective in the aquarium when planted in larger groups or in the foreground and is ideal for aquascaping.
distribution
Hydrocotyle tripartia, which is also found in some places under the name Japanese pennywort, is native to Japan, China and Australia. There it can be found in the wild, especially in standing and slowly flowing waters such as lakes, ponds, ditches, rivers or streams.
Since about 2008, the plant has enjoyed increasing popularity as an aquarium plant all over the world and scores with its easy maintenance and rapid growth. However, these properties have also led to the three-part pennywort being introduced from its area of origin to other countries, where it multiplies as an invasive species.
husbandry conditions
The three-part pennywort is a fairly uncomplicated aquarium plant and places few demands on its environment. The plant feels particularly comfortable at water temperatures between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius and only needs a medium supply of light. However, if the light supply is too low, the plant no longer spreads in the typical creeping manner, but grows upright towards the light source. Fertilizing with CO2 accelerates the growth of the plant enormously, but is not absolutely necessary.
The three-part pennywort propagates independently via side shoots, but there is also the possibility of propagating it via head cuttings. Due to this independent propagation, it may be that the growth of the side shoots has to be limited somewhat so that the three-part pennywort does not spread unintentionally in the aquarium.