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Midground plants connect the low foreground with the tall background and give the layout depth. They usually grow 4 to 10 inches (10-25 cm) tall, either as rosette plants or as stem plants that you trim to shape.
The group includes some of the most reliable plants in the hobby. Cryptocoryne wendtii and beckettii grow in low light without CO2 and handle a wide range of water. Ludwigia repens and Bacopa caroliniana are easy stem plants that turn reddish under stronger light. Rotala rotundifolia forms soft bushes, and Pogostemon helferi adds an unusual wavy look.
- Red plants: Alternanthera reineckii and red Rotala need good light and, ideally, CO2 and iron to show deep color.
- Trimming: cut stem plants and replant the tops to get denser bushes.
- Fertilization: rosette plants feed through the roots (root tabs), stem plants mostly from the water column.
Use the midground to hide equipment, create focal points around rocks or wood and give fish places to explore. Mixing slow crypts with a couple of faster stem plants is a simple way to compete with algae early on.
Midground plants
| Species | Light | CO₂ | Temp. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cryptocoryne wendtii Cryptocoryne wendtii | Low | Not needed | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Rotala rotundifolia Rotala rotundifolia | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Alternanthera reineckii Alternanthera reineckii | High | Optional (helps) | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Bacopa caroliniana Bacopa caroliniana | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Cryptocoryne beckettii Cryptocoryne beckettii | Low | Not needed | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Easy |
 Hygrophila pinnatifida Hygrophila pinnatifida | Medium | Optional (helps) | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) | Moderate |
 Ludwigia repens Ludwigia repens | Medium | Optional (helps) | 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) | Easy |
 Pogostemon helferi Pogostemon helferi | Medium | Optional (helps) | 72–86 °F (22–30 °C) | Moderate |
No species match those filters.