Författare: elof

Hemianthus glomeratus

Hemianthus glomeratus is a delicate stem plant from Florida. In the hobby, it has long been known under the erroneous name H. micranthemoides (or Micranthemum micranthemoides). It was recently identified correctly in the USA. With its small, light green curved leaves it is nice for beautiful dense group plantings. Under intensive light it tends to develop a creeping growth habit and thus can be used as foreground plant for strongly-lit tanks. However, it is better-suited for bushy groups in the middle ground of larger tanks or for the background of nano aquaria. Under strong light it can also be cultivated emerged, given that the substrate is kept moist. Then you’ll get a dense mat with very small leaves.

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