🌿 Bacopa monnieri Care Sheet
Common name: Moneywort / Water Hyssop
Family: Plantaginaceae
Origin: Widespread – South Africa, Asia, the Americas💧 General Description
Bacopa monnieri is a hardy, fast-adapting stem plant with small, succulent-like leaves and a strong vertical growth habit. Known for its ease of care and high tolerance to a variety of water conditions, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly aquarium plants available. It can grow submerged, emersed, or even creeping along wet soils, making it ideal for aquariums, paludariums, and ponds.
✅ Ideal Aquarium Conditions
| Parameter | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Lighting | Low to high (very adaptable) |
| Temperature | 18–30°C |
| pH | 6.0–8.0 |
| Hardness | Soft to hard (2–20 dGH) |
| CO₂ | Not required |
| Substrate | Any; even grows floating or in gravel/sand |
🌱 Growth & Maintenance
Growth Rate: Moderate (faster with light and nutrients)
Height: 10–40 cm (can be trimmed to size)
Placement: Midground to background
Trimming: Pinch tops to encourage bushier growth
Propagation: Super easy – just cut stems and replant
🐠 Aquarium Usefulness
Fish Compatibility: Ideal for all tanks – peaceful, hardy, and non-toxic
Shrimp-Friendly: Excellent for shrimp tanks; biofilm grows on its stems
Emersed Use: Popular in open-top tanks, paludariums, and Wabi-Kusa
Healing Use: In traditional medicine, Bacopa is known for nootropic (memory-enhancing) properties — not aquarium relevant, but fun to know!
⚠️ Notes
May become leggy under very low light; top regularly
Can flower with small white or purple blooms in open setups
Tolerates drying out better than most aquatics (great for shipping or low-maintenance tanks)
🌍 Special Tip (Southern Africa)
Bacopa monnieri thrives in South African water and weather, making it perfect for both indoor tanks and outdoor tubs or water gardens. In sunny tanks or ponds, it will even flower beautifully. Great for educational displays and low-tech setups!