Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Plant profile

Placement

Background

Best utilized as a background stem plant due to its rapid upward growth. It is also an excellent floater for breeding tanks, offering a dense tangle of leaves for fry to hide in. Grouping several stems together creates a visually appealing, bushy green texture in the rear of the aquascape.

Botanical form

Stem

It features long, slender stems covered in whorls of narrow, distinctly toothed or serrated green leaves. It looks slightly more delicate and jagged than Egeria densa. The plant retains a bright green coloration and grows vertically with high buoyancy.

Growth

Fast

Extremely fast-growing, especially under moderate to high lighting. It requires frequent trimming to prevent it from reaching the surface and blocking light from plants below. Its rapid metabolism makes it a great choice for newly established aquariums.

Substrate

None

It is not picky regarding substrate and can be grown in sand, gravel, or soil. It readily adapts to being grown as a floating plant, completely independent of the substrate. The roots it forms when planted are primarily for stability rather than heavy feeding.

Column fertilization

Recommended

Water column fertilization is the most direct and effective way to feed this plant. Regular additions of a comprehensive liquid fertilizer will ensure thick, robust stems and dense leaf growth. It is highly efficient at extracting dissolved minerals directly through its foliage.

Root fertilization

None

Root tabs are generally unnecessary since it relies very little on root-based nutrient uptake. It will thrive in an inert gravel bed as long as the water column contains sufficient nutrients. Focus feeding efforts on the water column rather than the substrate.

Trimming

Occasional

Trimming involves simply snipping the tops of the stems when they reach the surface and replanting those cuttings. The rooted bottom halves will sprout multiple side shoots, eventually creating a much denser bush. Discard any old, decaying lower stems during maintenance to keep the group looking fresh.

Propagation

Cuttings, Fragmentation

It is propagated very easily by stem cuttings. Snip the upper portion of a healthy stem and replant it directly into the substrate or leave it to float. The pruned base will quickly develop multiple lateral shoots, leading to a bushier plant.

Sensitivity

Moderate

While generally hardy, it can be somewhat brittle, and rough handling can cause the stems to snap easily. It is slightly more tolerant of liquid carbon supplements than Egeria densa, but caution should still be used to avoid melting. It prefers slightly cooler water temperatures.

Layout role

Midground, Background

It serves as an excellent, fine-textured background filler that adds bright green color to the aquascape. The dense, serrated foliage is highly prized in breeding setups, as it provides a perfect, safe labyrinth for fry to hide in. Its rapid growth helps quickly establish balance in new tanks.