🌿 Basic Overview

• Scientific Name: Cuphea anagalloidea

• Common Name: Cuphea, False Mexican Heather (aquatic form)

• Family: Lythraceae

• Origin: South America (mainly Brazil and surrounding regions)

• Type: Stem plant

🌱 Appearance

• Stem: Upright, sturdy, and slightly woody near the base; grows 15–30 cm tall.

• Leaves:

  • Small, narrow, and lance-shaped.

  • Arranged oppositely along the stem.

  • Glossy green under low light and pinkish to reddish under intense light.

• Coloration:

  • Bright green to reddish-pink depending on lighting and nutrient balance.

  • Often displays a gradient — green at the base, pink to red at the tips.

• Texture: Smooth and delicate, forming dense bushes when trimmed.

💧 Tank Conditions

🌾 Growth & Maintenance

• Growth Rate: Moderate; faster with good CO₂ and light.

• Form: Compact, upright stems that branch easily when trimmed.

• Trimming:

  • Frequent pruning encourages side shoots and dense bushes.

  • Cut tops can be replanted to create clusters.

• Spacing: 2–3 cm between stems for light penetration.

• Placement: Ideal for midground to background placement.

🌈 Color & Health Tips

1. Provide intense light for red and pink coloration on upper leaves.

2. Maintain steady CO₂ levels (20–30 ppm).

3. Dose iron and micronutrients regularly for vivid colors.

4. Avoid shade — lower leaves may drop if light is blocked.

5. Keep nitrate levels low and phosphate moderate to enhance pigmentation.

🧪 Propagation

• Method: Stem cuttings.

• Trim healthy tops or side shoots and replant directly into the substrate.

• Roots develop quickly under stable conditions.

🌍 Aquascaping Use

• Excellent for adding red or pink tones to planted tanks.

• Often used as a color accent among green plants.

• Ideal for Dutch-style layouts where color contrast is important.

• Works well beside plants like Rotala rotundifolia, Alternanthera reineckii, or Ludwigia arcuata.

⚠️ Challenges

• Sensitive to unstable CO₂ or nutrient deficiencies — may lead to stunted growth.

• Needs consistent trimming to avoid legginess.

• Can melt if light or CO₂ suddenly drops.

🪴 Quick Summary