{"product_id":"betel-leaf-cuttings","title":"Betel Leaf Cuttings | Piper betle","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBetel Leaf is a lush tropical climbing vine grown for its glossy, heart-shaped leaves. We want to be straight with you: this is not a true aquatic plant. It is sold as fresh cuttings for paludariums, terrariums and emersed or bog-style setups, or for growing on as a houseplant – not for permanent submersion in an aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePiper betle is native to the forests of South and South-East Asia, where it climbs trees and trellises in warm, humid, shaded conditions. It likes consistently moist, well-drained soil and tolerates wet feet, but it grows with its leaves in the air rather than underwater. It is the same plant whose leaves are used traditionally in betel-leaf preparations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHealthy Betel Leaf carries broad, glossy, heart-shaped leaves in deep green on a flexible climbing stem, with a mild peppery scent. Grown well it can climb a metre or more. Supplied as unrooted cuttings, each piece is ready to root in moist substrate or water and then grow on emersed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it in the emersed section of a paludarium or terrarium, along a bog margin, or trained up a background or piece of hardscape above the waterline. It can be started with its base in water – on a riparium ledge or hang-on planter, with the roots wet and the foliage in the air – but it should not be planted fully submerged, where it will slowly rot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRoot the cuttings in damp substrate, sphagnum or a glass of water until roots form, then pot on or fix into your emersed layout. Propagation is simple: take stem cuttings with a node or two and root them the same way. Keep humidity high while they establish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarm, humid, brightly shaded conditions suit it best – low to moderate light, temperatures around 20–30 °C, and moist but not waterlogged roots. No CO2 is needed. Feed lightly with a general fertiliser once established. The main pitfalls are letting it dry out, or attempting to keep it fully underwater, where it declines rather than adapts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePiper betle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBetel Leaf, Paan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth \u0026amp; South-East Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 cm+ (climbing vine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to Fast (emersed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner (as an emersed\/terrarium plant)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEmersed \/ Paludarium \/ Terrarium (not submerged)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to Moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeneral fertiliser once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–30 °C (roots); high air humidity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5–7.5 (substrate)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot critical\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStem cuttings (root at a node)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaludariums, terrariums, riparium ledges, houseplant use\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a paludarium above the waterline it happily coexists with any fish or invertebrates below, along with frogs and other vivarium residents that appreciate the leafy cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDo not treat it as a submerged aquarium plant – kept fully underwater it will rot and foul the water. Keep it out of fully aquatic display tanks unless you can grow it emersed with its foliage in the air.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234106523939,"sku":"AA3850","price":5.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/betel-leaf-cuttings-43078123880739-v2.webp?v=1790321528","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/betel-leaf-cuttings","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}