Cryptocoryne Usteriana Vitro Culture

Big, coarse, deeply textured leaves on an upright rosette. Cryptocoryne usteriana is the heavyweight of the genus — a Philippine species reaching over a foot, with a rugged, quilted surface that reads as structure rather than foliage. One of the few crypts that genuinely works at the back of a large tank. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format.

What You'll Receive

One 4-inch sealed Vitro Culture® bag containing multiple Cryptocoryne usteriana plantlets, ready for planting in your freshwater aquarium.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Usteriana Crypt
• Scientific name — Cryptocoryne usteriana
• Origin — Philippines
• Placement — Background
• Mature height — 10-16 inches
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Low to medium. Brighter light brings out the bronze and red tones.
• CO₂ — Not required, though it speeds a slow plant up
• Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5. Hard, alkaline water suits it particularly well.
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs under the crown.
• Growth habit — Amphibious rosette; also grows emersed
• Propagation — Runners

Grower's Notes

• Give it depth and room. A 16-inch leaf needs a deep, well-fed root run — two inches of nutrient substrate minimum, or root tabs pushed under the crown. Cramped in shallow gravel it stays small and never shows what it can do.
• It is a background plant, so plan for the wait. Usteriana is slow even by crypt standards. Buy it because you want a permanent structural plant that never needs trimming, not because you want the back of the tank filled this season.
• Hard water is an advantage here. Usteriana does especially well in hard, alkaline water — conditions in which most background stem plants struggle.
• Crypt melt is expected and is not failure. Tissue culture plantlets shed their emersed leaves as they convert. Leave the roots undisturbed — new leaves come from the crown within three to six weeks.
• Plant the crown at substrate level and then leave it. Bury the roots only; a buried crown rots from the center. Every replant restarts the melt cycle.

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

Notes

Images shown are sample representations. Some initial melting may occur during transition from tissue culture to submerged conditions, but healthy roots will regenerate with time.

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.