The Cryptocoryne genus, also known as the water goblet among aquarists, is widespread in nature in tropical Southeast Asia. About 60 species are currently recognized. Everything you should know about the popular aquatic plant can be found in this article.
Cryptocoryne (water cups) in nature
Many of the species known to aquarists come from Sri Lanka. For example, Cryptocoryne beckettii, C. wendtii, C. undulata, C. walkeri, C. willisii and C. parva grow on this island. In India, we find the long-leaved species Cryptocoryne spiralis, C. crispatula, C. retrospiralis, and C. sivadasanii but also C. ciliata and others. C. pondeteriifolia and C. moehlmannii come from Sumatra and C. cordata is native to Borneo.
The Cryptocoryne species are perennial aquatic or marsh plants. Some water goblets always remain under water. Others grow depending on the season and the associated water level, emersed or submersed.
To better understand cryptocoryne culture, let’s take a closer look at the structure of a cryptocoryne plant.
The plants consist of a branched rootstock and leave arranged in rosettes. After some time, large stocks develop as a result of the formation of runners on the vegetation buds of the rhizome. An interesting property of Cryptocoryne is the formation of different types of roots. On many plants, we can find two different types of roots. For one, there are thick, white, fleshy roots. They serve to anchor the plant in the ground and help it cling to a suitable substrate. On the other hand, we find fine, short roots that absorb nutrients. Some species also form hair-thin roots that grow upwards in swampy, oxygen-poor soil and probably have a function similar to aerial roots.
The leaves of water calyx consist of a petiole and a blade. The latter is species-specific and can range from lanceolate to ovate to narrowly linear in shape.
All cryptocorynes belong to the Araceae (araceae) family. They, therefore, form the inflorescences typical of this family, which consist of differently colored bracts (spatha) and a cauldron. In the cauldron is the cob with female and male flowers. The shape, the color, and above all the development of different outgrowths on the edge of the spathe are important criteria in determining the species.
Cryptocoryne (water chalices) in aquaristics
The Cryptocoryne or the water chalice has been among the most popular aquarium plants for many decades.
The reason for this is simple. Most of their representatives are easy to care for and they tirelessly reproduce. Since the species differ significantly in leaf shape, leaf size, and leaf color, we can find a suitable Cryptocoryne species or variety for every aquarium size and every type of planting. The differences are big. They range from the very small, almost turf-forming species C. parva to the large species with long leaves, e.g. B. C. crispatula var. balansae. However, most Cryptocoryne species belong to small and medium-sized aquarium plants. In the aquarium, they are used in the foreground or middle ground.
The shape of the cryptocoryne leaves shows itself in a wide spectrum. There are species with narrow, linear or ribbon-shaped leaves. These include, for example, Cryptocoryne albida, C. costata, C. crispatula var. balansae and C. retrospiralis.
Other species have broader, lanceolate or elliptical leaves such as Cryptocoryne affinis, C. ciliata, C. cordata, .C. legroi, C. moehlmannii, C. pondeteriifolia, C. xpurpurea, C. walkeri and C. wendtii.
The leaf color of various water cups is also interesting. The palette ranges from species with green leaves such as C. moehlmannii, C. albida costata or C. nevillii to brownish tones (C. beckettii, C. purpurea) and reddish-brown leaves (C. cordata, C. wendtii ‘Tropica’, C. wendtii ‘Brown’, C. wendtii ‘Mi Oya’).
Varieties with fancy colors include Cryptocoryne ‘Flamingo’ and C. legroi (a triploid form of C. walkeri). Many cryptos show a two-color hand. While the top is often dark green in color, the undersides are a more or less pronounced burgundy.
You should know that light intensity and fertilization can also have a major impact on leaf color and plant height. Although the members of the genus get by with little light, the leaves of some species become darker, redder, and larger under intensive lighting. The growth appears much more compact.
Cryptocoryne (water cup): the most commonly cultivated species
- C. affinis grows up to 40 cm high. Plants with different leaf shapes are found in culture.
- C. albida (whitish water calyx) grows up to 30 cm high and has green leaves.
- C. beckettii (Beckett’s water goblet) grows to 25 cm in height. The leaves can be dark green to brown and sometimes show an interesting marbling. It is one of the most easy-care water goblets.
- C. ciliata (ciliated water cup) is one of the largest water cups, has green leaves, and can grow up to 50 cm high. It is relatively salt tolerant and can also thrive in brackish water aquariums.
- C. cordata (heart-leaved water cup) is also large crypto. The submerged leaves can grow up to 60 cm long and vary greatly in color: from green to brown, sometimes marbled. Plants grow well but develop quite long petioles as they age.
- C. costata is closely related to C. albida, grows up to 30 cm high, and differs from the latter in its beautiful brown-red leaves.
- C. crispatula (Grass-leaved Waterchalice) can form narrow leaves up to 70 cm long. Often wrongly offered as Cryptocoryne balansae.
- C. crispatula var. balansae also has long leaves. However, they are significantly wider than in the nominate form and very bullous. There is also a brownish form on the market, which, in my experience, turns green under aquarium conditions.
- C. legroi is a form of C. walkeri and has beautiful brown-red leaves with a metallic sheen. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful species.
- C. moehlmannii (Möhlmann’s water goblet) grows up to 30 cm high and has large, green leaves. This Cryptocoryne is very similar to C. pontederifolia and just as easy to care for and undemanding. She grows very slowly.
- C. parva (small water chalice) is the smallest water chalice species in aquarium culture and only grows to a height of 10 cm. It has narrow, green leaves, is a slow grower but is otherwise not very demanding, and makes nice, lawn-like stands in the foreground.
- C. petchii is a triploid form of C. beckettii, a very undemanding plant with greenish leaves.
- C. pondeteriifolia (Pontederia-leaved water-chalice) grows up to 40 cm high and has mostly green leaves that also turn brownish under strong lighting. This is also an easy-care species.
- C. xpupurea (Purple Waterchalice) is a natural hybrid of C. griffithii and C. cordata var. cordata and grows to a height of 20–25 cm. It has dark green leaves that have purple marbling. The plants look very attractive and thrive without any problems.
- C. retrospiralis (twisted water calyx) has very narrow, light green leaves up to 40 cm long and resembles a Vallisneria in appearance. In contrast to this, the Cryptocoryne retrospiralis does not spread throughout the entire basin but forms clump-like stocks.
Underwater, C. spiralis (spiral water calyx) has narrow green leaves up to 70 cm long, which are often attractively wavy at the edges. The commercially available form of Dennerle grows excellently in the aquarium. C. spiralis is not affected by cryptocoryne blight. - C. undulata (Corrugated Waterchalice) is a medium-sized species with dark green to green-brown leaves. The species is one of the unproblematic, fast-growing cryptocorynes with a high reproduction rate.
- C. usteriana (Usteris Wasserkelch) is one of the fast-growing cryptocorynes, grows up to 70 cm high and its leaves are wavy and bullous under water. The leaves are green on top while the underside is a beautiful reddish brown.
- C. walkeri (Walker’s water cup) occurs in different growth forms. The leaves grow stiffly upright and reach a height of 25 cm. In the commercially available form, they are mostly reddish brown.
- C. wendtii (Wendt’s water chalice) is the most commonly cultivated water chalice and has the best growth characteristics. It has many decorative forms such as C. wendtii ‘Green’ with green leaves or C. wendtii ‘Braun’,
- C. wendtii ‘Tropica’, C. wendtii ‘Mi Oya’ — all three with darker, reddish-brown leaves.
- C. x willisii (Willis’ water cup) is a natural hybrid of C. parva and C. walkeri. It is a medium-sized, green-leaved water calyx that grows to a maximum of 20 cm in height. It is extremely easy to care for and quickly forms large groups.
Propagation of Cryptocoryne
Water chalice propagation is relatively easy. In aquarium culture, cryptocorynes are mainly propagated by division. Since water chalices are spread by stolons, adult groups can be divided or only individual rhizomes are taken.
Recently, another vegetative method of propagation has also gained importance, namely propagation in vitro, which takes place in the laboratory under sterile conditions. The biggest advantage of plants propagated in this way is sterile rearing. The plants are protected from algae spores, snail spawns, viruses, and other pathogens during cultivation. In addition, one can be sure that these plants never came into contact with fish. This rules out the transmission of white spot disease (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and various parasitic worms. Planted in the aquarium, the in vitro specimens form healthy stocks that grow quickly.
Generative propagation from seeds is also possible but plays practically no role in aquaristics since the plants have to be kept emersed for this.
The trouble with the Water Chalice: Cryptocoryne Blight
One of the very few problems encountered when cultivating cryptocoryne is the propensity of some species to what is known as cryptocoryne rot. Susceptibility to cryptocoryne rot varies greatly from species to species. It manifests itself in the leaves becoming glassy, rotting, and completely dissolving in a short time. Many aquarists used to think it was some kind of disease. Today, experts assume that this is how plants respond to sudden, more severe environmental changes. The rootstock is not affected and soon new, healthy leaves will grow from the rhizomes. The water chalice fully recovers.
Do you have any questions about the aquatic plant genus Cryptocoryne (water calyx) or other suggestions on the subject? We welcome comments!