Cryptocoryne Albida Red

Want a red Crypt that stays small? Cryptocoryne albida 'Red' forms a compact rosette of narrow, lance-shaped leaves in reddish-bronze through dark olive — far slimmer and lower than a wendtii, and unusual enough to work as a detail plant rather than a mass.

Be aware before buying: despite Cryptocoryne being an easy genus in general, this cultivar is genuinely difficult. It needs pressurized CO₂, a nutrient substrate and stable conditions, and it is not a beginner plant.

What You’ll Receive

• Bare-Root Plants: 1–2 small, loose, unpotted plants
• Rooted Bunched Plants: 1–2 plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
• Rooted Potted Plants: 1–2 plants rooted in rockwool and net pot

This listing features young plants grown in a controlled laboratory environment (ex-vitro), offering a clean, pest-free start.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Crypt Albida Red
• Scientific name — Cryptocoryne albida 'Red'
• Placement — Foreground to midground
• Mature height — 3–5 in
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Advanced
• Light — Medium to high. Intensity is what brings out the red
• CO₂ — Required for reliable growth and color
• Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5. Stability matters more than any single value
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Emersed growth needs stable humidity and light
• Propagation — Substrate runners, slowly

Grower’s Notes

• This is the hard Crypt. Most Cryptocoryne shrug off neglect; albida 'Red' does not. It wants stable parameters, good light, CO₂ and a nutrient substrate, and it declines rather than adapts when any of those swing. Do not buy it expecting wendtii behavior.
• Expect a heavy melt after planting, harder than most Crypts. Leave it in place for three to four weeks and let it rebuild from the roots — pulling it up is what turns a recoverable melt into a loss.
• Place it once and do not move it. Every relocation triggers another melt, and this plant is slow enough that a second one costs months.
• Feed at the roots. In inert gravel it will not develop the color or density it is bought for.
• Hard water is no obstacle. Cryptocoryne generally do well in harder water than most planted-tank species — it is the CO₂ and stability this one needs, not soft water.

Prefer the sterile format? See Cryptocoryne Albida 'Red' Vitro Culture.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Cryptocoryne Care Guide.

Notes

• Cryptocoryne Albida 'Red' is a delicate and sensitive species that may undergo "Crypt melt" — a natural shedding of leaves — when transitioning to a new environment. This response is common and temporary. To ensure successful growth, it is essential to maintain stable water parameters, provide pressurized CO₂, and use a nutrient-rich substrate.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.