Ludwigia super red is an easy plant to keep that adds movement and dimension to the mid- or background of the aquarium. This plant has small, round, pointed leaves that grow in opposite pairs along the whole length of the stem. The leaves can be green or red, depending on tank conditions. These plants are very attractive when planted in bunches of 10-12 stems.
It is a versatile plant, but to get the desirable bright red color, you must provide high lighting and nutrient levels. High iron content will bring out more red tones in the plant. UNS Plant Food is recommended to allow this plant to truly thrive. CO2 injection is not required but can help it grow more robustly. The plant can be grown submersed or emersed.
Propagation can be achieved by taking cuttings from the main stem of the plant that are replanted into the substrate.
Limnophila Aromatica is a beautiful plant perennial plant that can display a wide array of different colors ranging from green to red to pink. The thin and pointy leaves grow in opposite pairs along the whole length of the stem. It can grow beautiful pink or purple flowers. If pruned frequently, this plant will branch out and provide a bushy filler for the mid- or background of your tank.
This is an easy plant but to get the desirable bright red color, you must provide high lighting and nutrient levels. High iron content will bring out more red tones in the plant. CO2 injection is not required for the cultivation of this plant, but can help it grow more robustly. The plant can be grown submersed or emersed.
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Moderate to High
Co2: Required
Propagation: Cuttings
Growth Rate: Medium
Ludwigia Palustris is a beautiful aquatic stem plant to keep. Ludwigia are a great option for hobbyists who want to add color to their aquascape with ease. These plants are ideal for the background areas of the aquarium given their height and ability to fill large vertical spaces. Their vivid color creates a superb focal point, making them suitable for Dutch-style scapes. Ludwigia plants typically have oval-shaped leaves that grow in alternating pairs along the central stem. Colors include gold, orange, or red, depending on tank conditions.Ludwigia is a versatile plant, but to achieve the most desirable colors, high lighting, CO2 injection and necessary nutrients should be provided. If successful, Ludwigia species are prolific growers and will require normal pruning to create dense bushes!
Care: EasyLighting: ModeratePropagation: Cut the stem and replantGrowth Rate: Fast
Persicaria hydropiper is a unique, fast-growing stem like plant that can be added to emersed sections of your aquascape. It produces vivid green and red colors that work great in paludariums given its fast, marginal growth in natural settings. It can adapt to submerged conditions where its leaves become softer and may produce green and pink tones. Persicaria is a good option for aquarium hobbyists or plant enthusiasts in search of a unique plant that can be grown many different ways. It's a fast grower and will need to be pruned on occasion!
Needle leaf ludwigia is a beautiful plant with delicate green and red leaves. This is an easy plant to keep that adds movement and dimension to the aquarium. Needle leaf plants have thin, pointed leaves that grow in opposite pairs along the whole length of the stem. The leaves can be green or red depending on the amount of iron available in the water. If pruned frequently, this plant will branch out and provide a bushy filler for the mid- or background of your tank.
Needle leaf is a versatile plant, but to get the desirable bright red color, you must provide high lighting and nutrient levels. High iron content will bring out more red tones in the plant. CO2 injection is not required for the cultivation of this plant, but can help it grow more robustly. The plant can be grown submersed or emersed.
When grown emersed, the leaves tend to be round like other types of Ludwigia and remain green. When grown under high light and submerged in an aquarium, the leaves turn thin and orange to red depending on nutrients.
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Medium to high
Co2: Not necessary
Propagation: Cuttings
Growth Rate: Moderate
Myriophyllum Guyana is an uncommon beginners plant with soft, needle-like leaves. It grows in a dense bush, making it a great addition as a midground or background plant.
pH: 6.0-7.0
Care: Easy
Light: Medium to High
Co2: Recommended
Propagation: Cut stem and replant
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast
Echinodorus Marble Queen is a rare type of Amazon Sword which green leaves with white markings throughout. Like most swords, they should be planted directly into the substrate. When using inert substrates such as sand or gravel, it is important to supplement the plants with root tabs as Echinodorus are heavy root feeders. The plant can be grown both emersed and submerged and often times, new leaves can grow to the top above the water line. Overall, this plant is easy and undemanding and very suitable for larger tanks.
Height: 6cm
pH: 6-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Low
Co2: Not Required
Propagation: Separate new plantlets from the root
Growth rate: Slow to Moderate
Hydrocotyle Japan was made famous from frequent usage by famous aquascapers such as Takashi Amano. It is characterized by its clover-like leaves which can grow into compact bushes of green. This plant is versatile and can be used in the foreground, midground or background. It is undemanding and grows fast, often out-competing and overgrowing the tank if left untrimmed. By frequently trimming new growth and using high light with CO2, the plant can stay low growing and create a carpeting effect over the foreground.
Propagate by trimming stems and replanting on pulling apart dense clumps and splitting the roots. New shoots can be trimmed anywhere along the stem which allows the plant to grow thicker and more compact.
Height: 5-10"
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy to Moderate
Light: Medium
Co2: Required
Propagation: Cut stem and replant
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast
Glossostigma Elantinoides is a low growing aquatic plant that originates from New Zealand. It is a perfect foreground plant that if given sufficient lighting and nutrients can grow into a thick carpet of green foliage. The leaves are small and round with a beautiful bright green coloration that can nicely offset any neutral toned substrate.
High lighting and Co2 injection is necessary to keep this plant low growing. Vertical growing thin stalks are an indication of lack of lighting while yellowing leaves can mean nutrition deficiency. Thin leaves can also hint at a lack of Co2. This plant can grow quickly and require regular trimming when kept under proper conditions.
This plant can grow submerged or emersed in dry start aquariums and Wabi Kusa. Because this plant is small with tiny roots, it can prove difficult to keep planted into the substrate. In this case, dry start can help by allowing time for the roots to anchor into the substrate before flooding the tank.
Height: 1-2”
pH: 6-7.5
Care: Medium to Difficult
Light: Medium to High
Co2: Required
Propagation: Cut new growth along with roots
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast
Formally known as Hemianthus Callitrichoides, Micranthemum Callitrichoides is the epitome of carpet plants. This is one of the smallest aquatic plants available and just the right flora for creating that lush foreground seen in many stunning aquascapes. When grown in Iwagumi layouts, the vast fields of green can have a captivating effect on any audience.
Dwarf Baby Tears or HC can grow submerged or emersed in dry start aquariums and Wabi Kusa. Because this plant is small with tiny roots, it can prove difficult to keep planted into the substrate. In this case, dry start can help by allowing time for the roots to anchor into the substrate before flooding the tank.
Although some have had success growing HC in smaller tanks using liquid carbon such as Excel, this species requires Co2 injection to truly thrive. It can be quite difficult to grow lush, thick carpets for sustained periods of time without Co2, and fertilization is recommended. To maintain a nice foreground
Height: 1-2”
pH: 6-7.5
Care: Medium to Difficult
Light: Medium to High
Co2: Required
Propagation: Cut new growth along with roots
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast
Micranthemum ‘Monte Carlo' is a low growing aquatic plant that originates from Argentina. It is a perfect foreground plant that if given sufficient lighting and nutrients can grow into a thick carpet of green foliage. The leaves are small and round with a beautiful bright green coloration that can nicely offset any neutral toned substrate. This plant is very similar to Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC/Dwarf Baby Tears) but the leaves are larger and in our experience, its easier to grow. When hobbyist are having trouble growing HC, we recommend giving Monte Carlo a try.
High lighting and Co2 injection is necessary to keep this plant low growing. Vertical growing thin stalks are an indication of lack of lighting while yellowing leaves can mean nutrition deficiency. Thin leaves can also hint at a lack of Co2. This plant can grow quickly and require regular trimming when kept under proper conditions.
Height: 1-2”
pH: 6-7.5
Care: Medium
Light: Medium to High
Co2: Recommended
Propagation: Cut new growth along with roots
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast
Anubias Nana Mini is a much smaller version of the more common Anubias Nana. It makes the perfect foreground plant for smaller aquariums where other types of Anubias look too big for the size of your aquarium. It can also be used in larger aquariums in aquascaping, where one would like to achieve a greater sense of scale.Like all anubias, this plant performs well attached to wood or rocks. Suitable beginners or experienced plant keeper, high light or low light aquariums, CO2 or no CO2 injection
Height: 3-5”
pH: 6-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Low
Co2: Not necessary
Propagation: Separate by rhizome
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
