Common Name
Downoi
Description
"Daonoi" is an odd plant growing in fast-flowing rivers in northwest Thailand on limestone. It was long only known to science, but some years ago, some aquarists from Thailand discovered it for the hobby. It is characterised by compact growth, curly leaves and a nice light green hue.
Also called "daonoi" or "downoi" (Thai for "litte star"), Pogostemon helferi has been known to science for over 120 years, however, it was only discovered for aquaristic purposes in 1996, by Nonn Panitvong and Arthit Prasartkul, who found it in the Thai province Kanchanaburi, on the border to Myanmar. Within only a short period, P. helferi has become a very popular aquarium plant for the fore- and middleground. These authors found the species on a fast-flowing river with limestone ground. The plants grow on and between rocks, submersed for most of the rainy season in summer, and often in a strong current. During autumn and winter, the populations of P. helferi fall dry and form upright shoots with striking flower spikes typical for the genus Pogostemon. This Pogostemon species is easy in cultivation, given that specific requirements are met: sufficient light (0.5-1+ watt per litre), an ample CO2 supply and adequate levels of fertiliser including nitrate, phosphate, potassium and magnesium. The plant needs quite a lot of iron, to which it responds with a lush green leaf colour. Insufficient light induces etiolation, i.e. the internodes get longer, and the leaf colour changes into a yellowish hue. Propagation is quite easy, given that you use a cutting tool with sharp edges.
Source
Flowgrow
Characteristic
Small highly decorative plant
Curled, very narrow leaves
Eyecatcher for the fore- and middleground
Very popular in aquascaping
Synonyms
Anuragia helferi (Hook. f.) Raizada, Dysophylla helferi Hook. f., Eusteralis helferi (Hook. f.) Panigrahi
Complete Botanical Name
Pogostémon hélferi (Hook. f.) Press
Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Pogostemon
Category
Foreground
Difficulty
medium
Growth
medium
Carbon Dioxide
need
pH Value
5-7
Temperature Tolerance
15-28℃
Carbonate Hardness
2-14 dKH
General Hardness
0-30 °dGH
Propagation
Cuttings, Splitting, Cutting off daughter plants
Can Grow Emersed?
yes
