Lutea

The plant traded as Cryptocoryne lutea is a form of Cryptocoryne walkeri, a species from Sri Lanka, and it has been in the aquarium literature since at least 1979. It sits close to Cryptocoryne walkeri 'legroi', another form of the same species.

Care is easy and growth is slow, which makes it a plant to place once and leave alone. Light is listed from low to high, the optimum is 22 to 26 °C inside a tolerance of 15 to 29, pH runs 5 to 8, and carbonate hardness from 1 to 18 dKH, a wide window even for a genus known for taking hard water. Added CO₂ can assist growth.

It is frequently available in shops. An established plant sends out runners and forms a patch; beyond that it can be divided at the rhizome or have rooted daughter plants cut away. It also grows emersed, and most stock is raised that way.

Bury the roots while keeping the crown exposed. Nursery leaves may deteriorate during the transition underwater; leave healthy roots in place, remove decaying leaves and watch for new growth before discarding the plant.