Moneywort

Bacopa monnieri is a classic stem plant of the aquarium trade, sold under the name Moneywort and used in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is one of several herbs that go by the name brahmi. Long oval leaves grow in pairs along an upright stem, and the plant is happy in a plain midground spot with no special demands. It is rated very easy, and it stays a steady, dependable grower even in a first tank. It does well in 18 to 28 °C and tolerates pH 5 to 9 without complaint, which covers almost any community aquarium. Light can stay moderate; provide adequate light for the stem group. The species also grows emersed, and in an open tank the emersed form produces small light pink flowers in the leaf axils. Nutrition is not complicated: a balanced water column and an ordinary substrate keep it healthy. Propagation is by stem cuttings, which root readily. Because it is so forgiving, it is often the first stem plant people try, and it rewards that trust with fast, tidy growth.