Cryptocoryne Tonkinensis Vitro Culture

Long, narrow, ribbon-like leaves that rise in a loose spiral. Cryptocoryne crispatula var. tonkinensis is one of the tall crispatula forms — a background crypt that gives the vertical movement of Vallisneria without needing CO₂ or strong light. Color runs green to reddish-brown depending on conditions. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format.

What You'll Receive

• Sold as a Tissue Culture Plants with vitamin liquid/gel
• Packaging May Vary! To be sent in either in vitro bag or cup
• Bag size: Approx. 4 inches. Yield many small plants
• Sustainable growth aquarium plants species
• Tissue Culture Technology | 100% Free from Snail, Algae, Pathogen, and Bacteria plus Extended Shelf Life on all in Vitro Plants

Plant Profile

• Common name — Tonkinensis Crypt
• Scientific name — Cryptocoryne crispatula var. tonkinensis
• Also known as — Cryptocoryne tonkinensis
• Origin — Southeast Asia; slow-moving streams and marshes
• Placement — Background
• Mature height — 12-20 inches
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5. Hard water suits it, as it does most Crypts.
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs under the crown.
• Growth habit — Amphibious rosette; also grows emersed
• Propagation — Runners

Grower's Notes

• Plant it in a group, at the back. A single rosette of ribbon leaves is unremarkable. Several planted together where there is some flow give the swaying curtain effect that is the whole reason to choose a crispatula form over a broad-leaved crypt.
• Give it substrate depth. Twelve to twenty inches of leaf needs a deep, well-fed root run. Two inches of nutrient substrate minimum, or root tabs pushed under each crown.
• Crypt melt is expected and is not failure. Tissue culture plantlets shed their emersed leaves as they convert to submersed growth. Leave the roots undisturbed — new leaves come from the crown within three to six weeks.
• Plant the crown at substrate level. Bury the roots and leave the growing point exposed. A buried crown rots from the center.
• Compare it with our other tall crypts. Balansae is the same species with wider, hammered leaves; Retrospiralis is shorter and more reddish. All three do the same job at the back of a low-tech tank.

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

Notes

Disclaimer: Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged or submerge.

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.