Dragon’s tongue (Hemigraphis repanda) is a small, eye-catching plant that’s sometimes used in aquariums. It has green leaves with a purple to burgundy underside, making it a standout among other aquarium plants.

Why Dragon’s Tongue Doesn’t Last Long in Aquariums

Despite its appeal, dragon’s tongue is not a fully aquatic plant. It thrives in high humidity and can tolerate occasional submersion, but it usually doesn’t survive for an extended period of time underwater. This is because it’s easily confused with red dragon’s tongue macroalgae (Halymenia dilatata) and other similar plants that are fully aquatic.

Identifying True Dragon’s Tongue

To avoid confusion, it’s important to learn how to identify true dragon’s tongue. This plant is sometimes mistakenly sold as fully aquatic, which leads to the problems discussed above. Here are some tips for identifying true dragon’s tongue:

• True dragon’s tongue has green leaves with a purple to burgundy underside.
• It is not a fully aquatic plant and does not survive well when submerged for long periods of time.
• It is often confused with red dragon’s tongue macroalgae, which is fully aquatic.

Growing Dragon’s Tongue in a Paludarium

A paludarium is a type of enclosure that provides both water and dry land areas for plants to grow. It’s a great environment for dragon’s tongue because it allows the plant to access both water and air.

To grow dragon’s tongue in a paludarium, follow these steps:

• Plant the dragon’s tongue in a well-draining soil or substrate.
• Provide the plant with plenty of light, but avoid direct sunlight.
• Keep the water level in the paludarium low, ensuring that the dragon’s tongue’s roots are never fully submerged.
• Fertilize the dragon’s tongue regularly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
• Divide the dragon’s tongue into several new plants by root division.

Growing Dragon’s Tongue as a Houseplant

Dragon’s tongue can also be grown as a houseplant. It prefers filtered light and moist soil. To care for dragon’s tongue as a houseplant, follow these steps:

• Plant the dragon’s tongue in a well-draining potting mix.
• Provide the plant with bright, indirect light.
• Water the dragon’s tongue regularly, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
• Fertilize the dragon’s tongue monthly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.

Troubleshooting Dragon’s Tongue Disintegration in Aquarium

If you’re having trouble keeping dragon’s tongue alive in your aquarium, there are a few things you can check:

• Make sure that you have identified the plant correctly as true dragon’s tongue.
• Ensure that the plant is getting enough light and is not being submerged for too long.
• Check the water quality in your aquarium and make sure that it is not too acidic or alkaline.
• Consider using a different plant for your aquarium, such as Java fern or Anubias.

By following these tips, you can enjoy the beauty of dragon’s tongue in your aquarium or paludarium for many years to come.