Författare: elof

Ludwigia palustris ‘Super Red’

This cosmopolitan stem plant turns red easier and is smaller than the well-known Ludwigia repens ’Rubin’.
Each stalk becomes 2-4 cm wide and 10-30 cm high. The plant willingly creates side shoots, but cutting increases the amount and the plant becomes even denser. The cut-off shoots quickly generate new roots when planted.
The plant becomes intensely red and grows better, when placed in light and with added CO2.

Type: Stem
Origin: Cosmopolitan
Growth rate: Medium
Height: 10 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Low

Ludwigia repens ‘Rubin’

Variety of Ludwigia repens from North America with striking dark red leaves and stalk. Stems from 20-50 cm and 4-6 cm wide. It provides a great colour contrast to the green shades in the aquarium. Plant in large groups to enhance the decorative effect, and prune regularly to encourage bushy growth.
The plant has few demands, but if light is insufficient the lower leaves tend to fall off. In strong light the colour becomes more intense.

Type: Stem
Origin: North America
Growth rate: Medium
Height: 20 – 30+
Light demand: Medium
CO2 : Low

Glossostigma elatinoides

Glossostigma elatinoides from New Zealand is much in demand in Japanese-inspired aquariums. It is one of the smallest aquarium plants (2-3 cm tall), and thus a good foreground plant. A difficult plant demanding a lot of light. Grows upwards if light is poor. Make sure larger plants do not overshadow it. When planting in the aquarium small clumps (approx. 1/8 pot) should be placed at intervals of a few centimetres to help the plants grow together more quickly. CO2 addition and soft water promote growth significantly.

Type: Carpeting
Origin: Australia
Growth rate: High
Height: 3 – 5+
Light demand: High
CO2 : High

Cryptocoryne lucens

Denna art är en relativt liten Cryptocoryne-art och den blir sällan högre än 10-15 cm och därför passar den ofta bra i akvariets förgrund. I likhet med andra arter i släktet kräver den en tillvänjningsperiod innan den på allvar börjar växa. Den växer relativt långsamt i de flesta vatten. Ett näringsrikt bottenmaterial är en klar fördel för artens välbefinnande.
Plötsliga förändringar av ljus eller vattenvärden skall undvikas eftersom då bladen lätt kan ruttna. Den skall inte heller flyttas runt i akvariet. Ett lämpligt akvarium bör ha någorlunda cirkulation. Bladen kan bli upp till 12 cm långa och är mellan 0,6 till 2,5 cm breda. Om den skulle drabbas av den s.k. Cryptocoryne-sjukan så skall man inte slänga den eftersom den efter några veckor bildar nya skott. Förökning sker genom tämligen talrika avläggare. Man bör plantera den i en liten grupp.
Sannolikt är arten en odlingsvariant av C. willisii.

Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa caroliniana originates from US and has been used as an aquarium plant for many years. Stems become 10-30 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, branching willingly from the bottom. It has few demands and thus very convenient for beginners. Its slow growth rate makes it one of the few stem plants that do not need much attention.
Like most stem plants, it is most decorative when planted in small groups. Easy to propagate by cuttings; take a side shoot and plant it in the bottom.

Type: Stem
Origin: North America
Growth rate: Slow
Height: 20 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Low

Rotala rotundifolia sp Blood Red

The Latin name means “the plant with the round leaves”, but this only applies to the marsh variety, which has circular leaves. Rotala rotundifolia from South-East Asia has 15-30 long stems (2-3 cm wide) and long, narrow leaves. Unlike other Rotala species it is relatively undemanding, although it needs good light to produce red leaves.
It forms side shoots willingly, becoming compact and bushy. This also means that it is hard for light to reach the lower leaves, so the plant should be pruned frequently. Also known as Rotala indica.

Type: Stem
Origin: Asia
Growth rate: Medium
Height: 15 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Low

Heteranthera zosterifolia

Heteranthera zosterifolia from South America is an extremely beautiful plant, which forms a lot of side shoots and thus quickly forms a bushy plant group.

Stems can become 30-50 cm tall and 6-12 cm wide. Leaves often become black on the back. In strong light growth is intensive, and the plant must be pruned before it becomes so compact that no light reaches the lower leaves. Water roots often form on the stem. Those are easily cut and replanted.

In open aquariums, it forms small blue flowers if some shoots are allowed to spread on the surface.

Plant info
Type: Stem
Origin: South America
Growth rate: High
Height: 20 – 30+
Light demand: Low
CO2 : Medium

Ludwigia repens X arcuata

This Ludwigia is a hybrid between the North American species L. repens and L. arcuata. It is long known and has proven as an undemanding, colourful stem plant. Its lanceolate leaves become blood-red under good light. The stems are densely set with leaves; the internodes are short.

Ludwigia repens x arcuata is well adaptable to different water chemistry and has a high growth rate. Nutrient-rich bottom and medium to strong lighting are very beneficial for its growth. It tolerates quite cool water, however its temperature optimum lies between 24 and 28 °C.

As a group in the midground to background, this Ludwigia provides a colourful eyecatcher. Due to its low demands, it is also recommendable for beginners and for the primary planting of new tanks, respectively.