Cryptocoryne wendtii is the most widely kept crypt in the hobby and one of the best midground plants for a low-tech tank. It grows in low to medium light with no added CO2, roots into the substrate, and comes in green, brown and red forms. It also melts when you first plant it.
Crypt melt, and why not to panic
Plant Cryptocoryne wendtii and within days the leaves may go soft, translucent and fall apart. This is crypt melt, it happens after replanting, and the plant recovers.
What triggers it is a sudden change in conditions, which is what moving between tanks amounts to. The plant discards leaves grown for the old environment and pushes new ones suited to yours.
Leave the roots in the substrate. The roots are what regrow the plant, so digging it up because the leaves have gone is the one action that turns a temporary setback into a dead plant. Keep conditions stable and wait. There is more in the plant melt guide.
Growing it
| Requirement | Cryptocoryne wendtii |
|---|---|
| Light | Low to medium |
| CO2 | Not required |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | Rosette, midground |
It is a rosette plant, so it roots properly into the substrate rather than attaching to hardscape. A nutrient substrate suits it, and it is one of the plants that benefits from a coarse base layer under the soil because it spreads its roots vigorously.
It is a shade plant in the sense that matters for lighting: it grows healthily in low light and does not need a strong fixture to do well. That makes it a good fit for the Walstad method and for any low-tech planted tank.
Cryptocoryne questions
Why did my Cryptocoryne wendtii melt after planting?
Crypt melt after replanting is normal and the plant recovers. A sudden change of conditions causes it to shed leaves grown for its previous environment. Leave the roots undisturbed and it will regrow.
How long does crypt melt last?
It varies with how different the new conditions are and how settled the tank is. The plant is slow-growing, so recovery is measured in weeks rather than days. Stable conditions matter more than any intervention.
Does Cryptocoryne wendtii need CO2?
No. It grows well in low to medium light without added CO2, which is why it is a staple of low-tech tanks.