Staurogyne Repens UNS Tissue Culture
Plant Profile
Low-growing, spade-shaped green leaves form dense, bushy carpet mats that make Staurogyne Repens one of the most popular foreground and midground plants for aquascaping. Reaching a low-profile height of 1 to 3 inches, its stiff, branching stems stay close to the substrate, making it ideal for filling gaps around hardscape bases, creating foreground lawns, or trimming into clean midground hedges. While adaptable in standard conditions, providing moderate to high lighting along with pressurized CO2 keeps growth compact and prevents stems from stretching vertically.
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
- Low-growing leaves branch horizontally to form dense foreground carpets and midground hedges.
- Popular aquascaping species valued for filling gaps around rocks and driftwood bases.
- Adapts smoothly to fully submerged aquariums or emersed growth in humid terrariums.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Thoroughly wash away the nutrient gel from the roots with your fingers before parting it out into manageable portions.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant individual stems or small portions 0.5 to 1 inch apart into your aquarium soil to encourage horizontal branching across the substrate.
- Provide medium to high lighting and pressurized CO2 injection; consistent liquid fertilization rich in macro and micro nutrients supports thick leaf development and prevents leaf yellowing.
- Maintain stable water parameters to avoid leaf shedding or stem melt during the initial transition period.
- To propagate, trim vertical stem tops with sharp straight shears and replant the cuttings directly into your aquarium soil to extend your carpet coverage. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Staurogyne repens |
| Common Name(s) | Staurogyne Repens, S. Repens |
| Family | Acanthaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Tissue Culture Aquatic Stem / Foreground Plant |
| Care Difficulty | Medium |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Recommended (Essential for compact carpet growth) |
| Placement / Usage | Foreground Carpet / Midground Border & Hardscape Accent |
| Height / Size | 1–3” (Cup portion size: 2–3”) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.0–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cuttings (Trim stem tops or side shoots and replant) |
| Origin | South America (Brazil) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I prepare Staurogyne Repens Tissue Culture before planting?
Rinse the gel completely off the root system in a bowl of room-temperature water. Once clean, divide the cluster into individual stems or small 2-3 stem clumps and insert the roots into your aquarium soil using fine pinsettes.
2. Why is my Staurogyne Repens growing tall instead of forming a carpet?
Staurogyne Repens stretches vertically toward the surface when light levels are too low or when stems are planted too closely together. Increasing light intensity and pruning the tall stem tops encourages low horizontal side shoots across your aquarium soil.
3. How do I trim Staurogyne Repens to maintain a dense carpet?
Use sharp aquascaping shears to trim the stem tops down to 1–2 inches from the substrate. Regular top trimming prompts the lower leaf nodes to sprout multiple lateral shoots, building a tight, bushy bush along the foreground.