Cryptocoryne Pink Flamingo | Small Vitro Culture Cup

Rose-pink leaves with fine variegation — the most sought-after Cryptocoryne there is, and one of the most demanding. Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Pink Flamingo' is sold here in the small Vitro Culture® cup, the least expensive way into a plant that is otherwise costly per specimen.

What You'll Receive

One sealed small Vitro Culture® cup (1.7" × 1.7"), lab-grown and free of snails, algae and pesticides.

• 1 Cup: one cup containing 1 small rooted plant
• 5 Cups: five cups, each containing 1 small rooted plant

These are young tissue-cultured plants with their roots already formed — small on arrival, and grown on in your tank.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Pink Flamingo Crypt
• Scientific name — Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Pink Flamingo'
• Also known as — Crypt Flamingo, Cryptocoryne Pink Panther
• Origin — Cultivated form; the species is native to Sri Lanka
• Placement — Foreground to midground
• Mature height — 3-5 inches
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Advanced
• Light — Medium to high. Strong light intensifies the pink.
• CO₂ — Recommended. It holds color and compact form far better with it.
• Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs under the crown.
• Growth habit — Amphibious rosette; also grows emersed
• Propagation — Runners, slowly

Grower's Notes

• The pink is why it is difficult. Pink leaves carry far less chlorophyll than green ones, so this plant photosynthesizes less efficiently than any standard wendtii and has much less margin for poor light, unstable conditions or neglect. Do not assume ordinary Crypt Wendtii's toughness carries over — it does not.
• One small plant is a starting point, not a display specimen. This is the small-cup format: a young tissue-cultured plant bought cheaply and grown on. Expect a year before it looks like the photograph. If you want an established plant now, buy the loose listing instead.
• Expect a heavy melt. All crypts shed leaves on a change of conditions, and Pink Flamingo does it harder than most. Leave it alone for three to four weeks and let it rebuild from the roots — pulling it up is what turns a recoverable melt into a loss.
• Plant the crown at substrate level. Bury the roots and leave the growing point exposed. A buried crown rots from the center and a slow plant does not recover.
• New growth often returns greener before the pink comes back. Judge the color once it has settled, not on the first leaves.

Three ways to buy this plant. This listing is the small cup — one young rooted plant, the cheapest way in and the slowest. There is also a 4-inch Vitro Culture® bag with several plantlets, and an established bare-root or potted plant if you want size straight away.

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

Notes

Cryptocoryne species may experience "crypt melt" when first introduced to a new aquarium environment. This is a normal adaptation process. With stable water conditions, the plant typically regrows healthy new leaves from its root system.

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.
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• 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.