Cryptocoryne wendtii sp flamingo

Overview & Origin

• Scientific Name: Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Flamingo'

• Family: Araceae

• Origin: It is a cultivated variety (cultivar) developed through selective breeding. Its ancestor, C. wendtii, is native to Sri Lanka.

• Common Names: Flamingo Crypt, Pink Crypt, Crypt Flamingo.

Key Characteristics & Appearance

This plant is renowned for its vibrant, eye-catching color, which sets it apart from the typically green or brown Cryptocorynes.

1. Color: Its most defining feature. It exhibits stunning shades of pink, salmon, and light rose, sometimes with hints of cream or pale green. New leaves are often the most intensely pink.

2. Leaves: The leaves are lance-shaped (elongated oval) with a slightly wavy or textured surface. They grow in a classic rosette pattern from a central root crown.

3. Size: It's a relatively compact Cryptocoryne.

   • Height: Typically 4-8 inches (10-20 cm).

   • Width: The rosette can spread 3-6 inches (8-15 cm).

4. Growth Rate: Slow to moderate, which is characteristic of most Crypts. It focuses energy on establishing a strong root system before producing many new leaves.

Aquarium Care Requirements

While beautiful, the 'Flamingo' is considered moderately demanding due to its specific color needs.

Propagation

Propagating Cryptocorynes is straightforward but requires patience:

1. The plant will naturally send out runners (stolons) under the substrate.

2. New plantlets will develop along these runners and eventually emerge a short distance from the mother plant.

3. Once the new plantlet has several leaves of its own, you can carefully dig it up, cut the runner connecting it, and replant it elsewhere.