Whats wrong with my Hydrocotyle leucocephala?

[CaptainBarnicles]

I'm fairly new to a planted tank and have only really kept the basic easy care stuff...but I saw this and really liked it! I've tried to research it and everywhere says it's easy to keep but I don't seem to be having much luck. It's only been in the tank a week or so and the leaves are disintegrating. There's flora base pro under the sand and I'm just waiting for my TNC lite to arrive along with my flourish root tabs. The light isn't sufficient in my opinion, it came with the tank and its not great, I'd like to save for the fluval plant 3.0..

What's going on here? Any help would be appreciated

 

[Wills]

A lot of aquarium plants are grown in their emersed state (out of water) before they are sold, then when we add them to the tank the plant transitions to its submersed state (in water). During this process the plant will often shed the emersed leaves as they are not set up to work underwater.

Pretty sure thats whats happening here as the new smaller leaves look healthier on the tips. Once you get your liquid ferts in you should see a boost too but just give it a bit of time to settle in and transition.

Wills

 

[JazzyV]

that plant doesn’t need a tremendous amount of light..it can grow in the dark quite well for a period of time before it starts to perish if even ..so I doubt it’s light

also used in ponds and can emerge

also, depending on your source where you buy it..could be co2 grown so will go through a bit of transition to adapt to your setting
aside from emerse or submerse farm setting

plants like that I don’t consider need special lighting IMO …too much light for the job will only cause an imbalance

 

[Sgooosh]

agree with above!
when i got my mini hydrocoytle, it melted and then grew

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Hmm OK that's encouraging then...I bought it already submerged but I'm hoping you're right! I had the tripartita variety too but that just didn't make it....I moved it from another tank and for a few days it started to grow new leaves but I think the fish ate it or something as its literally just stalks now...I've left it in to see what it does

 

[JazzyV]

This one right?

This is why I can’t live without that plant I quickly discovered what my corys do with it rofl

I spend hours watching my Cory sleep on it lol they’re about 3 years old now…this pic was when I first got them. I still keep this plant around bc they sleep and play with it.

I tend to find pruning plants accordingly promotes healthy growth