Hydrocotyle tripartita Variants

[sonicninja]

Hi Everyone,
I have some hydrocotyle tripartita and its growing well but very stringy and thin. Im aware any carpeting plants like this may need certain conditions to grow in a compact way but I was wondering if there was any differences between the different types ive seen listed on various sites.

I think one reason for the thin and stringy nature of the type I have is most likely the strong flow I have meaning its difficult for my to keep the plant rooted in the subtrate. Ive made some stainless steel hooks that help keep it down but im not sure if its the right 'type' of hydrocotyle tripartita.

Anyway, should I be specifically looking for Hydrocotyle sp."Japan" or will I find little difference?

Cheers all

Keith

 

[Mick.Dk]

Actually Hyd. tripartita does not grow "dense" by nature - it has a "thin and stringy" growth by nature. What makes a dense appearance is the amount of those stringy stems. Growing-conditions are ofcourse the most important factor - but trimming techniques takes a nice second place, IMO.

By trimming end-shoots you can encourage each stem to branch, and by gently pressing the "criss-cross" of stems down with a flat palm (mechanical retardation), you will achieve a dense look. At some time the "density" get so thick, that a heavy trim or a re-plant will be nessesary, ofcourse.

As for varieties: there's allways variation within a species - even small variations from plant to plant (however small).........but I think by far most of commercially distributed material have the same origin, to be honest.