How to grow Hydrocotyle tripartita (Hydrocotyle Japan)

Introduction

Hydrocotyle tripartita, also known in the aquarium trade as Hydrocotyle Japan, has been in the hobby for a number of years and is popular with aquascapers for its attractive foliage and ease of maintenance. It has green lobed leaves which make it look similar to terrestrial clover plants. Hydrocotyle triparta spreads very quickly by runners. If the plant is cut back or allowed to bunch, it will form dense mats. It can be used as a carpet plant, but is more commonly used as a mid-ground shrub.

Hydrocotyle tripartita is very easy to grow in CO2-injected tanks. In most cases, its rapid growth rate and the fact that its runners will spread wherever they can make it a difficult plant to keep in place. It can be grown in non CO2-injected tanks but will generally be thinner and form less dense clumps. The plant can be planted on the substrate, but it also grows very well when attached to hardscape. It can be glued or tucked into cracks in the rock and the roots will become entangled in the hardscape over time. The advantage of using it on hardscape is that it grows a little slower, making it easier to control.

Hydrocotyle tripartita lining the sides of the cave entrance are planted directly onto the rock. 

Here H. tripartita is attached onto wood.

Key success factors

• At least medium light levels.

• Regular all round fertilization - as a fast grower, it can get pale leaves if fertilization is inadequate.

• CO2 injection makes this plant much easier to grow, without CO2 injection, the leaves are smaller and the clumps tend to be less dense.

• Not picky about water parameters.

Propagation & pruning

Hydrocotyle tripartita spreads rapidly by runners when growth conditions are favourable. Runners should be cut as soon as they appear if the aquarist does not want the plant to spread to a particular area.

Each stem with root can be separated and planted as a separate plant. It is important to retain the entire stem, leaf and root parts when propagating.

As the clump grows, older leaves may deteriorate, yellow or be attacked by algae - these should be cut away when pruning. Due to the rapid propagation rate of the plant as a whole - deep pruning is easy to do, removing old growth while replanting the top fresh shoots.