Cloverleaf - Hydrocotyle cf. tripartita - Dennerle pot

Cloverleaf - Hydrocotyle cf. tripartita

Cloverleaf (Hydrocotyle cf. tripartia) is a foreground and middle ground plant that belongs to the pennywort family. It is often used completely as ground cover. However, it is carpet-forming only if the light conditions are sufficient and, if necessary, additional fertilization is applied. It is only since a few years increasingly found in the domestic trade and was previously quite unknown in the European area. In this country it is still considered a rarity. On sale, it is sometimes not only listed and offered as cloverleaf, but is also available under the names "Australia" or "Japan".

It is especially popular with aquascapers and shrimp lovers, who appreciate its advantages and the possible formation of flowers. When fully grown, the absolute maximum height of the plant is 10 cm. It has an intense green color and incised 3-5 lobed leaves, which are characteristic of this plant and contributed to its name. After all, this plant strongly reminds of clover in a green meadow. Interestingly, the clover leaf tends to grow a little in height rather than in width when light conditions are insufficient.

Keeping, propagation and care: The keeping of the shamrock is to be regarded as simple, since it thrives at water temperatures of 20 to 28 degrees Celsius and does not make any demands on the water hardness (from very soft to hard) and can be described as very fast-growing with the already mentioned good light conditions. Propagation is easily done by runners of the plant. More compactness can be achieved by pressing down the growth, such treatment does not harm the plants in the least. Pruning to be carried out in the case of excessive growth also does not burden the plant, and a steady sprouting can still be observed. Often this shortening is just necessary, because the plant does not stop at the roots, mosses and stones and overgrows them. Ideally, planting is done with tweezers, making sure that the individual shoot is inserted deep enough into the ground.

Conclusion: Hydrocotyle cf. tripartia is primarily suitable for nano and shrimp tanks due to its easy care and excellent growth habit. Larger and bottom-dwelling ornamental fish might make it difficult for this interesting plant to grow in a normal tank, and its keeper would have less pleasure with this new release in the German trade.

Our recommendation: For a splendid plant growth we recommend the premium nutrient medium when setting up a new aquarium NatureHolic GroundBooster