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, now also as a variety of the Grisebachs sword plant species. That doesn't change their popularity.
How to care for the Echinodorus bleheri aquarium plant?
Echinodorus bleheri care includes sufficient space in the aquarium, moderate to high lighting conditions and, if necessary, special aquarium fertilizer. The plant can be contained by occasional pruning and propagates easily via daughter plants on overwatered inflorescences.
Buy and plant Echinodorus bleheri
Echinodorus bleheri, the large or Amazon sword plant, is one of the most common aquarium plants on the market and is therefore easy to purchase. Ask about it at your local aquarium store or garden supply store. Alternatively, you will surely find what you are looking for on the Internet.
Do not plant the Great Sword Plant in a small aquarium because it takes up a lot of space. With the right amount of food and light, it can grow up to 50 or 60 centimeters tall (tall and wide). The plant works well as a solitary or background plant. Other species of sword plants are much better suited for small aquariums.
Fertilize Echinodorus bleheri
The nutrient requirements of sword plants are 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 (€19.00 on Amazon).
Cutting Echinodorus
The Great Amazon sword plant does not need to be pruned to thrive, but it tolerates occasional pruning quite well. It is usually necessary when the remaining vegetation in the aquarium is threatened or even overgrown by the Amazon sword plant. Plants growing under it often don't get enough light, so you should also use a knife.
Propagate Echinodorus bleheri
You don't have to worry too much about propagating your Great Sword Plant, this plant practically does it on its own. It forms small daughter plants on the inflorescences. To do this, however, they have to stick out of the water.
The most important things in brief:
- not suitable for small aquariums, requires a lot of space
- maximum size: up to 60 cm height and width
- relatively high nutrient requirements
- Light requirements: moderate to high
- easy to propagate via daughter plants
- Can also be kept as a swamp plant when the humidity is high
Tip
If you would like to propagate your Amazon sword plant, then let the inflorescences grow out of the water, where the daughter plants will then form.
