{"product_id":"pogostemon-helferi","title":"Pogostemon Helferi | Pogostemon helferi 'Downoi'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePogostemon helferi, better known as Downoi or the little star plant, is a compact foreground species with crinkled, star-shaped rosettes. It has real character and makes a lovely detail plant, though it appreciates good light and a bit of attention to look its best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDownoi comes from Thailand, where it grows on rocks and banks along seasonal streams, often emersed in the dry season and submerged when the water rises. In the aquarium it recreates that setting under bright light in a nutrient-rich substrate, and nursery stock is usually grown emersed before it converts to its submerged form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach plant forms a low rosette of wavy-edged, bright green leaves radiating out like a star, typically 5–10 cm across and 10–15 cm tall. Healthy specimens stay compact and curly; stretched, flat leaves are a sign of too little light. The portion sold is a small rosette or clump that grows outward and sends up daughter plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse it in the foreground or midground where it gets plenty of light, planted in small groups or as individual accent rosettes among stone and wood. Keep it clear of filter intakes, and give each plant a little room so the star form shows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRemove the pot and rockwool, rinse the roots, and plant each rosette into the substrate. It propagates by side shoots and daughter plants around the base, and by division once a clump has formed; separate and replant these to spread it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigh or at least strong moderate light keeps it low, curly and compact; in dim light it stretches and loses form. CO2 is beneficial rather than essential and encourages denser, tighter growth. It is a root feeder that likes root tabs plus a liquid fertiliser, water 22–28 °C and pH around 6.0–7.5. Growth is moderate; keep it tidy so slow new leaves stay algae-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePogostemon helferi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDownoi, Little Star Plant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThailand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–15 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground to Midground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to High\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeneficial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoot tabs (root feeder) plus liquid fertiliser\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSide shoots, daughter plants and division\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\u003eForeground accents in planted aquascapes and nano tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish, shrimp and snails leave it be, and shrimp enjoy grazing the rosettes. It suits nano communities of tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids and pygmy corydoras.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiggers and uprooters such as large goldfish, big cichlids and burrowing loaches will disturb the shallow rosettes. Low light is its main enemy, causing it to stretch and lose its star shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\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":55234105639203,"sku":"AA1277","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/pogostemon-helferi-43078223331619-v2.webp?v=1790321588","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/pogostemon-helferi","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}