Re: Small Sword Plants

[Naomi Mizumoto <naomizu at pacbell_net>]

I don't know about "better," but smaller swords would be E. tenellus 
(narrow-leaf pygmy chain sword) and E. quadricostatus 'magdalenensis' 
(broad-leaf pygmy chain sword). I have the tenellus in my 2.5-gallon plant 
tank, and they're quite nice. In a larger tank, they make very attractive 
foreground plants. I've heard that the broad-leaf stuff is a little more 
difficult to maintain, and since the leaves are very soft, you run the risk 
of damage by plant/algae nibblers. As is the case for most swords, these 
fare better with stronger light, supplemental CO2, and nutrient-rich 
substrate.

I also have what I believe to be E. parviflorus 'Tropica' as well as the 
non-Tropica (I think it's also known as E. peruensis). The former is said 
to max out at about 4", I think, while the latter will reach maybe 8" (?). 
How tall they grow will depend on the conditions you have, but they will 
continue to put out new leaves. Every now and then, you may want to uproot 
them, trim the roots, and pluck off the outer (older) leaves, if they 
appear to be growing algae on them or are looking poorly.

Just keep in mind that swords are *usually* sold in the emmersed-grown 
form, and new, submersed growth will look and feel different.

-Naomi :)

P.S. - There's also something called E. humulis, whose submersed growth 
looks very similar to E. tenellus, but I don't recommend them, and they're 
difficult to find, anyway. My C. japonica decimated them, and what remained 
didn't appear to grow too nicely, anyway.

******************************************

>Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 20:38:32 -0600
>From: "Ellen O'Connell" <oconnell_wadeash at ix_netcom.com>
>Subject: Small Sword Plants
>
>Can anyone tell me what echinodorus parviflorus v. Tropica and echinodorus
>bleheri v. robustus are like and maybe how they compare?  I'm looking for
>small swords and these are both listed by Arizona Gardens as small.  What
>happens when they are full height?  Do they just sit there or keep getting
>wider?  Are there any other swords that don't get more than say 8" high
>that would be better?  Tanks are 2 and 3 watts per gallon.  Thanks.

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