Slow growing
Low light
Foreground plant

Cryptocoryne lucens grows to about 3 inches typically. It makes a great foreground to midground plant due to its smaller size. This crypt plant does well under low light and grows fairly slowly. It will send out runners as it grows and will eventually form a dense, bushy carpet of narrow, bright green leaves even without high light. However, it takes quite a bit of time, so for a faster carpet effect, use multiple pots of Cryptocoryne lucens.

Scientific Name: Cryptocoryne lucens
Native To: Asia
Skill Level: Easy
Placement: Foreground and midground
Recommended Light: Low Light 10-20 PAR (click to see our PAR chart)
CO₂ Requirement: None
Preferred Fertilizer: Easy Root Tabs and Easy Green liquid fertilizer
Propagation: Trim plantlet from runner or side shoot and replant

***Being a natural product, sizes can vary from what is shown.***

How to Plant Cryptocoryne Lucens

1. Remove the potted plant from plastic basket, and split the rock wool in half.
2. Carefully remove the plant roots from the rock wool, and make sure to remove all the small, yellow fertilizer balls. Wash off any remaining debris.
3. Use planting tweezers or your fingers to push the roots of the crypt deeply into the substrate until they are completely buried. Pull out the plant slightly so that the crown (i.e., the base of the plant where all the leaves come out) is not covered with substrate.
4. If the plant keeps popping out of the ground, try inserting the plant at an angle or wrap a plant weight at the bottom of the plant to keep it anchored.
5. Make sure to add lots of root tabs if you’re using inert substrate or if your nutrient-rich substrate is depleted.

How to Grow Cryptocoryne Lucens

— Cryptocoryne lucens care is very easy, so start by using low lighting between 10-20 PAR.
— Why is my new cryptocoryne melting? Crypt plants are known to experience "crypt melt" where the leaves may melt when suddenly moved to a new environment. To help the plant recover faster and grow new leaves that are accustomed to your water parameters, leave the roots planted in the ground and make sure to provide nutrient-rich planted tank substrate or Easy Root Tabs.
— Why is my Cryptocoryne lucens turning yellow after it was growing so well? Crypt plants absorb lots of nutrients from the ground, so it may be a nutrient deficiency. If the leaves are yellowing and dying after a couple of months, please add more root tabs.
— How to trim Cryptocoryne lucens: If the crypt plant has dying or melting leaves, cut them off at the base of the leaf.

How to Propagate Cryptocoryne Lucens

Crypt plants can reproduce in aquariums by sending out a horizontal runner with a little plantlet at the end or growing little nodes off the side of the original plant. The plantlet will sprout its own leaves and roots that grow into the ground. You can cut off the runner or gently split off the plantlet node from the parent plant. Then the plantlet can be replanted in a different location.