The large sword plant (bot. Echinodorus bleheri or Echinodurus grisebachii bleheri) is considered a very easy-care aquarium plant. For a long time it was listed as a separate species, but now also as a variety of the species Grisebach's sword plants. That doesn't change anything about their popularity.

As its name suggests, the large heavy plant grows quite large

Buy and plant Echinodorus bleheri

Echinodorus bleheri, the large or Amazonian sword plant, is one of the most common aquarium plants on the market and is therefore easy to acquire. Ask for it at your local aquarium or garden supply store. Alternatively, you will certainly find what you are looking for on the Internet.

Do not plant the Great Sword Plant in a small aquarium, as it needs a lot of space. With appropriate food and light, it can grow up to 50 or 60 centimeters (high and wide). The plant is well suited as a solitary or background plant. Other types of sword plants are much better suited for small aquariums.

Fertilize Echinodorus bleheri

The nutrient requirement of sword plants is quite high, so fertilization should at least be reconsidered. If your plant gets enough nutrients from the water, then no additional fertilizer is necessary. Otherwise, it is best to use special aquarium fertilizer.

Cut Echinodorus

The Great Amazon Sword Plant does not need to be pruned to thrive, but it does tolerate the occasional pruning quite well. It is usually necessary when the remaining vegetation in the aquarium is being harassed or even overgrown by the Amazon sword plant. Plants growing under it often get too little light, even then you should reach for the knife.

Propagating Echinodorus bleheri

You don't have to worry too much about the propagation of your large sword plant, this plant does it practically by itself. It forms small daughter plants on the inflorescences. To do this, however, they must protrude out of the water.

The essentials in brief:

  • not suitable for small aquariums, needs a lot of space
  • maximum size: up to 60 cm in height and width
  • relatively high nutrient requirements
  • Light requirement: moderate to high
  • easy to propagate via daughter plants
  • can also be kept as a marsh plant in high humidity

tips

If you would like to propagate your Amazon sword plant, then let the inflorescences grow out of the water, where the daughter plants will form.

Category:

Vegetable garden