Echinodorus argentinensis
Echinodorus argentinensis grows naturally in Argentina, South America. The plants grow along the marshy banks of rivers. The Argentine echinodorus is one of the largest echinodorus varieties and requires quite a lot of living space when growing in an aquarium. Recommended for trained aquarists.
Echinodorus argentinensis is a large plant and quite difficult to keep. The shape of the leaves is variable and depends on keeping conditions. They can be rounded, oval or pear-shaped. The leaf plate has distinctive, convex veins. The shrub is over 50 cm tall and at least 20 cm wide.
Plant the Echinodorus argentinensis argentinensis bushes in the foreground or background. The aquarium should be large enough to accommodate its large size. In order to present the plant in all its glory, the aquarium volume should be at least 400 litres. Under suitable conditions, the plant grows rapidly, and soon its leaves, having reached the surface of the water, begin to grow in an airy environment. To limit the growth of the bush, periodically cut off the leaves growing above the water surface. If the aquarium is lidless, you can allow the bush to grow in an airy environment, which will add some zest to the overall design of the aquarium, and in addition in these conditions, the plant can release flower arrows.
Water parameters: temperature 21-28° C, hardness dH 4-18°, pH 6,5-7,5. CO2 fertilisation is beneficial for the development of the bush. Requires filtration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh water.
The substrate should be sandy or in the form of fine gravel. The thickness of the substrate should be at least 5 cm. Root feeding with mineral fertilisers is desirable.
The lighting should be bright, with an intensity of 0.5 Watts per litre. Daily light duration: 10-12 hours.
Reproduction
Propagate Echinodorus argentinensis daughter bush, which eventually appear at the parent bush on the peduncle. If the shrub has a well-developed rhizome, you can separate and plant part of it in a new location. But not everything is as easy as it seems, reproduction of this plant is problematic under aquarium conditions. In the aquarium, the Argentine echinodorus hardly ever forms inflorescences, and the formation of daughter offshoots is a big deal.
Echinodorus argentinensis can be successfully grown in humid conditions of greenhouses and paludariums, where the plant develops well and from it is much easier to obtain offspring. The offspring are formed on long peduncles, which can be produced in the 2nd or 3rd year of the plant's life.
