Staurogyne sp Porto Velho
Plant Profile
Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho is a distinctive, creeping foreground and midground aquatic plant native to South America. Known for its narrow, lanceolate leaves and low-growing, carpeting habit, this species develops lush olive-green foliage that often displays a subtle grayish-purple to silvery-pink sheen under strong lighting. Slightly more demanding than the popular Staurogyne repens, Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho is highly favored by experienced aquascapers for creating dense, carpeted lawns, terraced slopes, or transitional ground cover in high-tech aquariums, paludariums, and vivariums.
*Form Notice: Photos display this plant in both its emersed (above-water) and submerged forms. Depending on nursery availability and seasonality, you may receive this plant in either form. Learn more about what to expect by reading our guide on Emersed vs. Submerged-Grown Aquatic Plants.
Key Features & Benefits
- Creeping habit forms dense foreground lawns and midground slopes.
- Leaves show a grayish-purple sheen under high-intensity light and tuned fertilization.
- Thrives submerged in planted tanks or emersed in paludariums and terrariums.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to plant individual stem cuttings 1 to 2 inches into nutrient-rich substrate, spacing them 1 inch apart to encourage horizontal runner development.
- Provide medium-to-high lighting and nutrient-dense aquarium soil; pressurized CO2 injection is highly recommended to encourage low, creeping growth and bring out its subtle purplish highlights. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
- Maintain stable water parameters (acidic to neutral pH 5.0–7.0 preferred) and avoid sudden parameter swings to prevent leaf melt.
- Trim vertical stems tops with curved scissors to force lateral shoot spreading, and replant trimmings with roots to propagate. 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 sp. 'Porto Velho' |
| Common Name(s) | Staurogyne Porto Velho, Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho |
| Family | Acanthaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Carpeting Stem Plant |
| Care Difficulty | Medium / Advanced |
| Light Requirement | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Recommended (Essential for low, spreading carpet) |
| Placement / Usage | Foreground Carpet / Midground Transition |
| Height / Size | 2–6” |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Water Parameters | pH 5.0–7.0 |
| Propagation Method | Cuttings (Cut vertical shoots and replant) |
| Origin | South America (Brazil) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho differ from Staurogyne Repens?
Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho features narrower, more elongated leaves and grows in a lower, more creeping horizontal carpet compared to Staurogyne repens, which has broader oval leaves and grows slightly taller and bushier. Porto Velho also develops a unique purplish sheen under strong light.
2. How do I keep Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho growing low as a carpet?
To encourage low, horizontal carpeting rather than tall vertical growth, provide high light intensity, pressurized CO2, and routinely trim off any shoots that reach upward. Trimming forces the plant to send out side shoots along the substrate.
3. How do I transition Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho from emersed to submerged growth?
When transitioning from emersed to submerged growth, plant individual stem clusters securely into nutrient-rich soil under strong lighting and pressurized CO2 while maintaining stable water parameters. As new growth adapts, the plant will shed its stiffer emersed foliage and sprout soft, narrow underwater leaves with a purplish tint. Once new runners develop, trim away old lower growth to maintain a tight carpet.