Hygrophila lancea ‘Araguaia’ Chai

[Noahspapa]

I’m looking to try and grow Hygro Chai in my plant farm tank and was looking to see if any of you all who have attempted this could share any lessons learned and/or sources of the plant.

 

[riioKen]

My experience so far, tried 3 times to grow it:

First attempt from TC went very bad, but I'm sure that the cup was already old/bad stored.

Second attempt from TC, I splitted the cup in 4 pieces, 2 planted straight in the soil and the other 2 let them float for 2/3 days. I've lost 2 pieces (1 floated 1 in the soil), the 2 that survived thrived but the floated ones gave me better roots.

I tried a third time because my light broke and I've lost around 300€ of plants.

Bought directly from an hobbyist, he gave me around 6cm piece planted straight in soil. This single piece now has 3 head (it was 4, but I cut one off because it turned in Araguaia, sometime happens you have to cut it off), it has veeeeeery long roots, and it's very slow but consistent. Is very hardy when properly adapted to water conditions.

My chemistry is:
GH 5.2 KH 0 pH 5.1 during injection, 200+ par at substrate

 

[Noahspapa]

Just an FYI I am aware this plant is discussed on the 2hr website. Just looking for any additional input from forum members as well as any experiences purchasing the plant.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Just curious, why not go with crypt flamingo if you want that hot pink? More manageable plant, IMO

 

[riioKen]

Just curious, why not go with crypt flamingo if you want that hot pink? More manageable plant, IMO

Not the op, but for me, chai is way more appealing due to smaller leaves and size in general. Crypts are PITA due to size and growth rate.

Additional note for me:
It gives me lots of satisfaction grow harder plants.

 

[Noahspapa]

I’m hoping to grow them both! I have some pink flamingo from a TC growing, still very small, and thought I’d try the chai.