Pogostemon stellatus 'Octopus'
Needle-fine whorls that unfurl like tentacles in the current.
A fast, dramatic stem plant whose narrow leaves radiate outward in perfect starbursts, giving the whole stand a feathered, kinetic texture that no other plant matches. Under strong light and CO2 the tips flush warm amber. Grows quickly — expect to trim weekly once it establishes. Farm-raised bundle of submersed-grown stems.
What it needs to thrive
- Lighting
- Moderate to high — 50–90 PAR for compact whorls and amber tips.
- Flow
- Moderate flow; the leaves sway constantly and shed detritus.
- Feeding
- Column and root feeder — dose a complete liquid fertilizer weekly; root tabs for heavy substrate rooters.
- Temperament
- Peaceful — shrimp-safe, fry-safe, and grown pesticide-free.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Ideal Tank Size
- 15 gallons and up
- Water Parameters
- 70–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · GH 3–10 · KH 1–8 · nitrate 10–25 ppm with a complete liquid fertilizer
Midground to background as a textural feature. Plant in loose groups so each whorl has room to open.
Peaceful and shrimp-safe. Its fast growth outcompetes algae during tank startup.
Quarantine, dip, and acclimation
Quarantine
Hold all new fish in a bare-bottom 10–20 gallon QT for a minimum of 4 weeks. Observe for flashing, clamped fins, white spots, or breathing changes. Treat preventatively with copper (1.75–2.5 ppm chelated) or tank-transfer method for ich, plus a praziquantel course for flukes. Invertebrates and corals skip QT but go through dip and observation instead.
Recommended coral dip
For every new coral: a 5–10 minute bath in your reef-safe dip of choice (Bayer Complete, CoralRx, or Reef Primer) following label dosage, followed by two clean saltwater rinses. Inspect plugs and bases for flatworms, pyramid snails, and eggs — remove or refrag onto clean plugs before placing in display.
Acclimation
Float sealed bags in your QT or display for 15 minutes to match temperature. Then drip acclimate at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes until volume has tripled. Net livestock into the tank — never pour shipping water in. Dim the lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.
