Willow Hygro

• Easy background plant
• Long, slender leaves 
• Bushy appearance

Willow hygro (or hygro willow) has long, slender leaves that look like a willow tree and elegantly sway in the current. As a stem plant, it loves stronger lighting and will grow quickly if given plenty of nutrients. Its tall, bushy appearance is perfect for filling up the background of your planted aquarium, and it can be easily propagated to other tanks.

• Scientific Name: Hygrophila angustifolia (formerly Hygrophila corymbosa "Augustifolia")
• Native to: Southeast Asia
• Skill Level: Easy
• Placement: Background
• Recommended Light: Medium to High Light 20-50+ PAR (click to see our PAR chart)
• CO₂ Requirement: Not required but preferred
• Preferred Fertilizer: Easy Green liquid fertilizer and Easy Root Tabs
• Propagation: Trim stems and replant

***Being a natural product, sizes can vary from what is shown.***

How to Plant Willow Hygro Aquarium Plant

1. Remove the potted plant from plastic basket, and split the rock wool in half.
2. Carefully remove the plant roots from the rock wool, and make sure to remove all the small, yellow fertilizer balls. Wash off any remaining debris.
3. Use planting tweezers or your fingers to plant each stem deeply, at least 2 to 3 inches into the ground, which means the substrate may cover some of the bottom leaves.
4. Don’t plant the stem plants all in a single bunch but rather individually with a little space between so that the roots have some room to grow.
5. If the plant keeps popping out of the ground, try inserting the stem at an angle or wrap a plant weight at the bottom of the stem to keep them anchored. If the stems have no roots, some people will float them at the surface until they develop roots and then plant them into the substrate.

How to Grow Hygro Willow Plant

— Willow hygro care is very easy, so start by using medium to high lighting between 20-50+ PAR to prevent "leggy" stems (where the bottom portion of the plant starts dropping leaves). Also, CO₂ gas is preferred but not required.
— Why is my hygro willow plant melting? This stem plant is grown out of the water at the farm. Once the plants arrive to us, we begin the process of converting them to their underwater form. The plant you receive may be half-converted and still need time to adjust to life under water. To help speed up the transition, provide plenty of light and nutrients to encourage new leaves to sprout as the old leaves melt away. Consider floating the stems at the surface until it grows more roots and can be easily planted into the substrate.
— Why is my willow hygro turning yellow or brown? If your stem plant is getting enough light, it may be a nutrient deficiency, so measure the nitrate level using a multi-test strip. Dose with Easy Green all-in-one fertilizer until the water has 20-50 ppm nitrate. 
— How to trim hygro willow: If the plant is too tall or the bottom half of the stem has lost its leaves, prune off the top portion and replant it.

How to Propagate Willow Hygro

Stem plants can be easily propagated by trimming off the top half of the plant and replanting it in another location. The original plant will continue growing upwards from where it was cut and may even create multiple branches.