R.A.S. Fins & Friends
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R.A.S. Fins & Friends |
| Echinodurus Bleheri |
Echinodorus Bleheri, a.k.a. Echinodorus Paniculatus and Echinodorus Rangeri, is another very beautiful, large Amazon sword plant and is ideally suited to the novice (or anyone) who wishes a large, easy to grow, focal or centre plant which also appreciates "rich" gravel and withstands snails, fish nibbles, and a fair range of light. It also withstands algae from toomuch light fairly well. It adds to the oxygenation of the water and one can often see streams of very tiny air bubbles rising to the surface originating from one of the bright to dark green leaves. The roots help break down fish detritus, it contributes to the nitrogen cycle, and adds an element of stability to the whole environment of the aquarium. As you may have guessed, I really like this plant!
It originates in the tropical parts of South America. It has durable, thick bright to dark green lanceolate leaves which are12-20 inches long (30-50cm) and 11/2-31/4 inches wide (4-8 cm). Both ends of the leaf are pointed and have two inner longitudinal veins which extend from a point near the end of the central vein with two other parallel veins seen near the base (notfrom the base as in the Echinodorus Amazonicus). There are also numerous, very tiny cross veins which may be dark green to brown. This plant does well in hard as well as softer water and does best under medium bright light. The leaves will yellow when lacking iron. Most liquid plant fertilizers available for the aquarium contain a large amount of chelatediron. Propogation of this plant is usually by adventitious plants which form frequently at the crown of the plant. These new, often fairly large plants can be easily untangled from the parent plants roots but the whole plant must be uprooted to accomplish this.The plant prefers a pH of 6.5-7.5 and a temp. of 75-82 degrees F(24-28 degrees C). It strongly resembles an Echinodorus Amazonicus but the leaves of Echinodorus Bleheri are broader and sometimes straight. Each plant may consist of 20-30 leaves 20-40 cm long by 40-60 mm wide. It may develop a floral stalk (just as Echinodorus Amazonicus does) with buds and plantlets at each node. These buds also open only when emersed and can then befertilized with a feather. The roots will developed on the submersed plantlets and the little plants can then be gently wiggled off the stalk. Try not to damage the stalk as more plantlets should appear in a fewmonths, though this plant generally propogates far more frequently by adventitious plants.