Staurogyne Repens - Potted

Staurogyne Repens | Potted

Staurogyne repens is a popular South American foreground plant known for its compact growth, small deep-green leaves, and ability to form a dense, natural-looking carpet when given time to spread. Unlike “grass” carpets, S. repens creates a lush, leafy foreground that looks especially natural in nature-style aquascapes—perfect for softening the base of hardscape and adding a mature, established feel to the layout.

Staurogyne Repens Overview

In the aquarium, Staurogyne repens grows low to the substrate with short stems and clustered leaves that slowly knit together into a dense, leafy foreground. Visually, it gives you that “planted, established” look—more like natural groundcover than a uniform grass lawn—so your aquascape feels fuller and more intentional without looking overgrown. It’s especially effective for creating a clean transition from open foreground space into taller midground and background plantings, and it looks fantastic tucked along the base of hardscape where it softens edges and makes rocks and wood feel naturally embedded in the layout.

Aquarists appreciate Staurogyne repens for:

• Compact, leafy texture: A foreground plant that reads as lush and natural, adding “leaf mass” without the flat, uniform look of some carpets.
• Hardscape framing: Perfect for planting around rocks and driftwood to create a rooted, riverbank-like effect and add depth to the scape.
• Layering and contrast: Its rounded leaves contrast beautifully with fine-leaf stems and grassy carpets, making it a great companion to plants like Cryptocorynes, Rotala, Ludwigia, and other midground/background species.
• Easy shaping over time: With occasional trimming, it can be trained into a low carpet or allowed to form a slightly taller, bushy mid-foreground.

Used as a grouped planting, Staurogyne repens can help you “connect” foreground to midground—framing a stone path, outlining a driftwood base, or creating a lush green border that makes your red and tall green plants stand out even more.

Caring for Staurogyne Repens

Staurogyne repens is an undemanding, hardy plant that does well in low to moderate light, though it becomes noticeably more compact and bushy under stronger lighting. It is not overly fussy about substrate, but it will spread faster and grow thicker when rooted into a nutrient-rich planted substrate. Consistent nutrients are especially helpful if you’re aiming for a dense, carpet-like effect rather than scattered stems.

To establish it well, plant small portions with space between them and let the runners and side shoots fill in. As it grows, trim any stems that begin to shoot upright if you prefer a low carpet; pruning encourages the plant to branch and spread horizontally. Clean, regular cuts with sharp aquascaping scissors help keep the plant tidy and encourage new growth points rather than ragged tips.

• Light: Low–Moderate (stronger light promotes tighter, lower growth)
• Temperature Range: 68–82°F
• Placement: Foreground–Midground
• CO₂: Not required (beneficial for faster spread and denser carpeting)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Growth Rate: Moderate

For a “pro-level” carpet, combine Staurogyne repens with a nutrient-rich substrate and consistent fertilization, then use trimming to keep the growth low and thick. It looks especially sharp planted around aquascaping rocks and driftwood, where it creates a natural, planted base that makes the hardscape feel anchored and intentional. If you want Staurogyne repens to stay compact and bushy rather than reaching upward, slightly stronger lighting and steady nutrients go a long way. A planted-tank light like the Fluval Plant Spectrum 4.0 Bluetooth 24/7 LED paired with consistent fertilization can help it fill in faster and keep that dense, leafy foreground look.

Why Choose the Potted Version

The potted Staurogyne repens is a great option if you want a plant that arrives with a well-established base and is easier to position securely from day one. Because it has been grown and rooted in its pot, it typically comes with a more developed root structure, which can make initial placement more stable—especially in new scapes or tanks where plants are still settling in.

Many aquarists like the flexibility of potted plants: you can place the pot directly into the substrate temporarily while the plant adjusts, or remove it from the pot and plant the stems into your substrate for a more seamless look. Keeping it potted at first can also help reduce disturbance in the layout while you decide on final placement.

Staurogyne repens is also available bare-root, and both options can thrive—potted simply offers extra convenience and stability during planting and early establishment.

Shopping for Aquarium Plants at Modern Aquarium

At Modern Aquarium, each Staurogyne repens plant is carefully inspected, cleaned, and prepared by hand before shipping so you receive healthy, vibrant specimens ready to plant.

• Top Quality Store & real reviews: Modern Aquarium has been designated by Google as a Top Quality Store and has thousands of individual verified reviews from real customers, so you can shop with confidence.
• Live Arrival Guarantee & fast delivery: All live plants are backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee and shipped via FedEx 2-Day delivery to help ensure they arrive fresh and ready to thrive.
• Trusted sourcing: Our plants are sourced from some of the best nurseries in Florida and handled with care from the grower to your aquarium.
• What You See Is What You Get: The images on our site are typical representations of the plants we sell—no unrealistic stock photos. Because live plants are natural products, individual specimens will vary in size, fullness, and exact growth pattern.
• Support when you need it: If you have questions about planting technique, trimming for a tighter carpet, or pairing S. repens with other foreground plants, you can reach us through the chat feature on our website or simply give us a call—we’re happy to help.

If you’re building a foreground that looks lush, natural, and easy to maintain, Staurogyne repens is one of the best “workhorse” plants you can choose—and the potted option makes it especially easy to place, establish, and grow into a dense carpet over time. CO₂ isn’t required, but in brighter planted tanks it can noticeably speed up spread and improve density. If you decide to run CO₂ for a true “pro” carpet, a stable setup like our Fully Automated CO₂ System with pH & CO₂ Controller helps keep levels consistent—then simple trim-and-replant maintenance will keep the foreground looking crisp and intentional.