Hygrophila corymbosa | How To Grow the Temple Plant

Looking for an easy stem plant for your aquarium, but don't like the very narrow-leaved species? We've got just the thing for you! Hygrophila corymbosa is a lightning-fast grower and makes a great choice for beginners and experienced aquarists alike.

Below, find out everything you need to know to successfully grow a lush Hygrophila corymbosa plant in your tank!

What is Hygrophila corymbosa?

Hygrophila corymbosa is a popular aquarium plant that's naturally found in a few countries in Southeast Asia. Sources don't entirely agree on its wild range, but this Hygrophila is definitely present in Cambodia, Laos, The Philippines, and Thailand. Here, it actually doesn't tend to grow underwater, but since it's a marsh species it's quite well-adapted to the submersed life.

You'll find Hygrophila corymbosa for sale in most pet and aquarium stores, often under the name "temple plant". It's appreciated by aquarists for its easy care and unfussy nature. You can recognize a temple plant by its elongated (lanceolate) leaves, tall stems, and bushy appearance.

This species can take on a bronze hue in high-light conditions, provided there's plenty of iron available. It's a fast grower that's known to need regular pruning to maintain its bushy shape. Luckily, you can plant the pruned stems right back into the substrate for more Hygrophila goodness!

There are a few different varieties of temple plant you may come across in your local aquarium store:

• H. corymbosa 'Siamensis': relatively dense, narrow, and elongated foliage.
• H. corymbosa 'Siamensis 53B': very bushy.
• H. corymbosa 'Compacta': extra-small, more suitable for mid-ground than background.
• H. corymbosa 'Pink': a variegated cultivar with splotches of bright fuchsia on the leaves.
• H. corymbosa 'Cherry Leaf': with more pronounced red coloration.
• H. corymbosa var. stricta: with extra-large, extra-broad foliage
• H. corymbosa var. angustifolia: with extra-long, extra-narrow foliage

Did you know? According to Kew Plants, Hygrophila corymbosa is an invasive species in Florida and northern Mexico. As always, we urge you to be a responsible aquarist and always make sure aquarium plant clippings can't make their way into your local waters!

Hygrophila corymbosa requirements

The temple plant is a common sight in aquarium stores, and that's mostly because it's so easy to grow. You don't have to be an expert aquatic gardener for this one: you just need to provide some basic light and nutrients. Although this species grows alright in low-light conditions, it does best under medium lighting (70-150 lumen per gallon).

Co2 is not required, but it will get you the best growth. Nutrient tabs or a nutrient substrate are recommended, and dosing liquid macronutrients (NPK) and micronutrients (like with BioVert) is also a great idea. Remember: the faster a plant tends to grow, the more nutrients it sucks up. And this is really quite a quick grower, so it's very hungry!

In terms of water parameters and temperature, Hygrophila corymbosa is known to be versatile. Try to prevent the pH from exceeding 7.5. Remember that this is a tropical, so the water shouldn't get too cold.

Hygrophila corymbosa uses

The temple plant is a popular addition to Dutch-style tanks, which use a variety of stem plants to create depth and texture. This being said, this sturdy plant is suitable for almost any type of aquarium! Aside from the 'Compacta' variety, it's usually used as a background plant due to its size.

As mentioned, Hygrophila corymbosa naturally grows emersed, i.e. above water. This makes it quite versatile. You can allow it to grow out of open-topped tanks, for example, or maintain it in a paludarium or moist terrarium.

It's common for a temple plant to bloom when not submersed; the tiny flowers are purple in color. Do keep in mind that a plant's appearance can change depending on whether it's grown in water or on land!

Buying Hygrophila corymbosa

As mentioned, this is a popular aquarium plant. You should be able to find it in most specialized aquarium stores, although they may not carry all the different varieties.

You can also order temple plants and other aquarium plants online. The Shrimp Farm offers Hygrophila corymbosa in bunches of three stems, WITH snail-free guarantee option, and ships it right to your doorstep!