POGOSTOMON ERECTUS

POGOSTOMEN ERECTUS forms compact groups of bright green, conifer-like stems, 15-40 cm tall and 1-3 cm wide.

Pogostemon erectus is suitable as a background plant and creates a wonderful focal point in both smaller and larger groups. Intense light helps the plant to stay compact for a longer period. Moderate growth and vigorous roots. Plants will need frequent pruning, and cut off shoots will easily start growing when planted.

This plant has needle-like narrow leaves with dense foliage and an upright growth habit – it forms a compact group with a nice light green colour.

Pogostomen erectus may not be suitable for no-filter low-maintenance tanks, however, it is not very demanding and won’t wither away if provided with plenty of light and CO2. In nature, the plant is also found in brackish areas, and it might be more adaptable than has been thought up to now. Relatively small differences in growing conditions may lead to varying leaf thickness and texture.

In aquascaping, this species is best used in the background of an aquarium. Only in very large tanks it can be used further to the front. If it is provided with limited nitrogen it will develop a moderate growth rate, which is easier to handle, if the nitrogen supply is too high it will grow really, really fast. Its fine light green foliage is especially effective neighbouring red or magenta-coloured plants. When the shoot tip is cut off, many lateral shoots are formed, so that the group grows very dense after some time. Then thorough trimming becomes a must.

It is a fairly easy easy plant to grow, but you need to make sure you have decent fertilizers and of course CO2 is always beneficial if you want to get the best from this plant. Failure to do this always results on algae taking hold and settling quickly of the leaves. Temperature wise, 22-28° C is recommended so this won’t cause problems for most of you. Always plant Pogostemon Erectus in a group of 3 pots or more as it will look best that way, and what is even more wonderful is watching it sway in the current – it’s quite mesmerising…