Echinodorus Horizontalis is a rare plant but is beautiful and easy to care for. They offer excellent and attractive coverage to the background of an aquascape. This plant has firm, long cordate leaves with a light to medium green color. Leaves that are just emerging have a brownish-pinkish to light brown color which later becomes green. The plant is broader than tall and the leaf blades are horizontally arranged.
Echinodorus are slow growing but can grow very tall. E. Horizontalis is not demanding and requires medium lighting. These plants propagate through side shoots off of their leaves, which can be trimmed and replanted into the substrate.
With a nutrient rich substrate these plants will tolerate most lighting conditions, but moderate to high lighting is ideal. CO2 injection is not necessary but will help the plant grow faster if desired. Amazon sword plants will grow submersed or emersed.
Notes:
- Echinodorus is a very hardy species of aquatic plants. Most Echinodorus require nutrient-dense soil to thrive as they are heavy root feeders.
- Echinodorus grow fairly large and are more suitable for larger planted aquariums.
- Do not make drastic changes to the aquarium. Unstable parameters will result in melt and rotting of the aquarium plant.
- Please be sure to remove this plant from its pot. Remove the cotton surrounding the roots and plant into a quality substrate. For instructions on how to properly prep “potted” aquarium plants, click here.
- CO2 injection and quality aquarium soil will yield better growth.
- Please research appropriately to ensure your plant thrives.
Family Name: Alismataceae
Origin: South America
Height: 8-16”
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Moderate-High
Co2: Not necessary
Propagation: Adventitious shoots
Growth rate: Slow-Fast