Question 1

What is Pennywort and why is it different from other aquarium plants?

Accepted Answer

Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) – Aquarium Plant – 1 Cup

Name: Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) — Aquarium Plant — 1 Cup
Brand: Microworms.in
SKU: PENNYWORT
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.44 (16 reviews)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4.4 (16 Reviews) View all reviews

₹49.00 ₹79.00 38% OFF

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Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) — round coin-shaped leaves; unique appearance unlike any other aquarium plant
Grows submerged as stem plant OR floating at surface — most versatile plant in the catalog
Surface floater: natural cover for Guppy/Molly fry, Betta nests, shrimp
No CO2 needed — grows very fast even without CO2; one of the best no-CO2 plants
1 Cup ₹49 ? | 2 Cups ₹89 | 3 Cups ₹129 ⭐ | 5 Cups ₹199 ?
Very fast growing — fills background in 3–4 weeks; trim every 1–3 weeks
pH 5.0–8.5 · temp 15–28°C · grows in any Indian tap water without treatment
Pairs with Rotala stems — round Pennywort leaves contrast beautifully with feathery Rotala

Tags: Aquatic Plants Floating Plant No CO2 Plant Pennywort Shrimp Plant

Quantity:

1

Question 2

Can Pennywort float on the water surface?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Pennywort is an excellent floating plant when allowed to grow to the water surface. Simply place stems on the surface without planting and the stems will float horizontally, producing round leaves above the waterline and trailing roots below. As a surface floater, Pennywort provides natural cover for surface-feeding fish and fry, creates shaded areas beneath the floating layer that reduce intense LED light reaching the substrate, provides a grazing surface for shrimp on the trailing root system, and creates the surface habitat that Betta fish naturally prefer for bubble nest building. Floating Pennywort grows very fast and requires periodic thinning — remove excess floating stems every 2–3 weeks to prevent complete surface coverage.

Question 3

Is Pennywort good for a Guppy tank?

Accepted Answer

Pennywort is one of the best plants for Guppy tanks. The primary benefit is fry survival: in a community tank where adult Guppies and other fish will eat fry immediately after birth, dense floating Pennywort at the water surface provides the hiding cover that allows fry to survive. Fry can hide among the round leaves and trailing roots in the floating Pennywort until they are large enough to swim freely without being predated. One or two cups of Pennywort allowed to spread across the surface of a Guppy tank significantly improves fry survival without requiring a separate breeding tank. Pennywort also benefits Guppy tanks by absorbing nitrates rapidly, reducing algae pressure in the high-nutrient environment that Guppy tanks typically become.

Question 4

How fast does Pennywort grow?

Accepted Answer

Pennywort is one of the fastest-growing aquarium plants available. Under warm water (26–28°C) with moderate-high light, it can grow 5–8cm per week. Even in cool, low-light conditions, it grows 2–3cm per week. A single cup of Pennywort (5–8 stems) can fill a significant portion of a 45cm background within 3–4 weeks. This fast growth is an advantage for filling empty tanks quickly and for natural nitrate control, but it requires regular trimming (every 1–3 weeks) to prevent the plant from overgrowing smaller or slower plants in the tank. The trimmed stems can always be replanted or floated.

Question 5

Does Pennywort need CO2?

Accepted Answer

No — Pennywort grows very well without CO2 injection. It is one of the most vigorous no-CO2 plants available. Without CO2 at moderate light, Pennywort still grows 2–4cm per week, maintains attractive bright green round leaves and propagates readily from cuttings. CO2 increases growth rate further but does not meaningfully change the plant's appearance or colour (unlike Rotala Red where CO2 is important for colour development). For aquarists with no-CO2 setups, Pennywort is one of the most reliable and rewarding stem plants available — it grows, looks great and fills space without any special equipment.

Question 6

How do I plant Pennywort in my aquarium?

Accepted Answer

There are three ways to use Pennywort. For substrate planting: remove stems from the cup, rinse any mineral wool from the base, and push 3–4cm of each stem into the substrate; space stems 3–5cm apart; roots develop from the submerged stem nodes within 1–2 weeks. For floating: simply place stems on the water surface without planting; stems float naturally and roots trail downward; no maintenance required for initial establishment. For mixed mode (most common in Indian planted aquariums): plant the lower portion of each stem in the substrate and allow the growing tips to reach the surface and spread; this provides both structured background planting and natural surface cover from the same plant.

Question 7

Will Pennywort overgrow my aquarium?

Accepted Answer

Pennywort grows very fast and will overgrow a tank if not trimmed regularly. Left untrimmed in a warm, well-lit aquarium, Pennywort will cover the water surface within 3–4 weeks, completely shade out other plants and begin growing above the water surface as an emergent plant. Regular trimming every 1–3 weeks is essential. Trim stems at the desired height and either replant the cut tops or remove excess. Floating Pennywort must be thinned every 2–3 weeks by scooping out excess floating stems. The fast growth is very useful for nitrate control and tank establishment, but it requires the aquarist to stay on top of regular trimming. If you prefer low-maintenance plants that rarely need trimming, Anubias and Java Fern are better choices. If you want fast coverage and don't mind trimming, Pennywort is outstanding.

Question 8

Can Pennywort grow in a low-light aquarium?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Pennywort grows in low-light conditions where many other stem plants would fail to thrive. At 15–20 PAR (low light), Pennywort grows more slowly than at high light (1–2cm per week rather than 5–8cm) and the leaves may be slightly larger and more widely spaced (longer internodes) but the plant remains healthy and attractive. This makes Pennywort one of the best options for aquariums with basic or modest lighting setups. For comparison: Rotala Red requires 35+ PAR for colour; Ludwigia needs 30+ PAR for red; Dwarf Hairgrass needs 30+ PAR for carpeting. Pennywort is genuinely attractive at light levels where all of these plants would struggle. The round leaf shape and bright green colour are retained even at low light.

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Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala) – Aquarium Plant – 1 Cup