AQUARIUM PLANTS Anubias (Araceae, West Africa) These grow slowly, under weak lighting, in soft, acid water. Multiplication takes place through a division of the rhizome, which must never be covered with soil. Anubias barteri There are two varieties: the smallest, the dwarf anubias, is ideal for foregrounds; the biggest, Barter’s anubias, has spear-like leaves and […]
PLANTS FOR THE MORE EXPERIENCED Vallisneria (Hydrocharitaceae, Asia) The vallisnerias are often confused with the sagittarias. Like them, they reproduce through runners, need plenty of light, water that is not too hard, and a slightly acid pH. Vallisneria asiatica The eel grass is found in several varieties. Its leaves are spiraled. It can exceed 40 […]
AQUARIUM PLANTS Rotala (Lythraceae, South-East Asia) The leaves of these species are reddish in color, especially on the underside, but their shape varies according to the setting. They grow in soft, acid water, under strong lighting, and need plenty of iron. The formation of adventitious roots makes it easy to take cuttings. They can produce […]
MOST POPULAR PLANTS Limnophila (Scrofulariaceae, South-East Asia) Its fine foliage is much appreciated by certain fish which lay their eggs on it or, depending on the species, munch on it. These amphibian plants can live submerged, and when they reach the surface of water they spread out on top of it. At this point cuttings […]
AQUARIUM PLANTS Eleocharis (Cyperaceae, tropical regions) These plants, resembling tufts of grass, live in swamps, and are therefore suited to aquaterrariums, although they can also be cultivated in aquariums under strong lighting, in hard, alkaline water. Eleocharis minima When the stems of the spiked rush reach the surface, they spread out and do not emerge […]
Ceratophyllum (Ceratophyllaceae, cosmopolitan) Ceratophylls can be found all over the world, but only one species is common in aquariums. Ceratophyllum demersum The water sprite is found in Europe and Central America, though this temperate water plant can adjust to tropical aquariums. It is well suited to tanks with goldfish or garden ponds, where it can […]
They could also be called “the classics,” as they have given great pleasure to both veteran and novice aquarists for generations. Some are of particularly interest to beginners, as they are not only easy to cultivate but also inexpensive. They are mainly stemmed plants which provide cuttings without any difficulty and grow rapidly provided they […]
Of the thousands of plants that are genuinely aquatic, or only amphibian, only a few hundred are to be found in the aquarium trade. The vast majority of these come from tropical fresh water, with the remainder coming from northern climes, and therefore suitable for temperate aquariums and garden ponds. The most common plants are […]
Plants without stems thicken at the base, sometimes forming smaller, secondary feet with roots. These can be carefully removed with a razor blade and replanted. The division of the base is a technique applicable to many plants, such as the cryptocorynes. LAYERING Some plants, such as the Echinidorus species or the marine algae from the […]
In the wild, the most common mode of reproduction among plants is sexual, involving flowers and seeds. When the conditions in a setting are inauspicious, however, sexual reproduction gives way to asexual reproduction, know as vegetative multiplication. Pieces of plants that have broken off or been uprooted, and then swept along by the movement of […]