Live Plants

Amazon sword plants are very common in the aquarium hobby, being that they are beautiful and easy to care for. They offer excellent and attractive coverage to the background of an aquascape. These plants have short stems that grow in a rosette, bearing long and ovoid leaves with a pointed tip. Their leaves are dark or bright green in color with prominent veins and slightly wavy shape.

Amazon sword plants can get pretty huge, making them a great fit for a large tank. Their large leaves can easily restrict light to other plants if they are not pruned regularly. These plants propagate through side shoots off of their leaves, which can be trimmed and replanted into the substrate. To control the size of your Amazon sword plant you can remove the side shoots and older leaves.

With a nutrient rich substrate these plants will tolerate most lighting conditions, but moderate to high lighting is ideal. CO2 injection is not necessary but will help the plant grow faster if desired. Amazon sword plants will grow submersed or emersed. Emersed plants produce lovely white flowers.

Common Name: Water Lettuce

Water Lettuce is a well recognized floating plant that is frequently used in ponds as well as aquariums. It is popular among shrimp keepers as well since the long roots drape into the aquarium and provide plenty of coverage and bio film to the shrimp. Its also a fast growing plant that can absorb nitrates making it suitable for tanks with inhabitants that are sensitive to water parameters.  

The leaves are soft with a velvet texture and the plant bears resemblance to open heads of lettuce.  It can be propagated by forming at the end of stolons which extend outward from the mother plant. Water lettuce can block out light from plants below so only keep low light requirement plants in the same tank. It also inhibits algae growth to help maintain a clear aquarium.

Italian Vallisneria (Vallisneria spiralis) is a robust aquatic plant prized for its rapid growth and elegant, ribbon-like foliage. Its tall stems create an ideal backdrop in planted aquariums while offering refuge for fish and contributing to water quality by absorbing excess nitrates. This hardy species thrives in varied conditions, making it accessible to beginners and experienced aquarists alike. It propagates readily through runners, establishing dense, naturalistic stands over time. For peak performance, provide a nutrient-rich substrate with root fertilization to support vigorous development and vibrant coloration.

Common Name:Salvinia Cucullata

Salvinia Cucullata is a less common floating plant with small nickel sized leaves filled with pouches of air.  Unlike other similar floating plants, Salvinia does not have long roots that drape into the water column.  This small floating fern can grow into thick mats that cover the entire top of the tank and block out light from below.  Its perfect for low tech aquariums and paludariums and can act as a good shading plant to prevent algae growth

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.

Name: Microsorum Pteropus Java Fern Windelov
Placement: Midground, as desired
Difficulty: Easy

Ludwigia Repens is an easy plant to keep, making it a great option for tank geeks who want to add color to their aquascape without the hassle associated with the colorful plants. These plants are ideal for the midground or background of the tank. Their vivid color creates a superb focal point. Ludwigia plants have oval leaves that grow in alternating pairs along a tilted stem. The leaves are gold, orange, or red, depending on tank conditions. These plants are very attractive when planted in bunches of 10-12 stems.

Ludwigia is a versatile plant, but to get the desirable bright colors, 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, but it is much more difficult to cultivate in the emersed form.

Propagation can be achieved by taking cuttings from the main stem of the plant that are replanted into the substrate.