Amazon Sword Plant

Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri) is a favorite among aquarium hobbyists due to its impressive size, vibrant green leaves, and ease of care. This robust plant adds a lush, natural look to aquascapes and serves as an excellent backdrop plant in freshwater tanks.

Planting and Placement

Substrate: Amazon Sword thrives in nutrient-rich substrates. Use aquarium soil or supplement the substrate with root tabs to provide essential nutrients. Plant the Amazon Sword by burying its roots in the substrate, ensuring the crown remains above the substrate to prevent rot.

Light Requirements: Amazon Sword prefers moderate to high lighting conditions. Aim for 2 to 4 watts per gallon or an equivalent LED light setup. Adequate lighting ensures healthy growth and prevents the leaves from becoming pale and leggy.

Water Conditions:

• Temperature: Ideal temperature range is between 72°F and 82°F.
• pH: Amazon Sword thrives in slightly acidic to neutral water, with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.
• Hardness: It prefers soft to moderately hard water (3 to 8 dGH).

Maintenance

Pruning: Regular pruning is essential to prevent Amazon Sword from overshadowing other plants. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to promote new growth and maintain the plant’s health. Pruning also helps manage the plant’s size, especially in smaller aquariums.

Fertilization: Amazon Sword is a heavy root feeder and benefits from regular fertilization. Use root tabs to deliver nutrients directly to the roots. Liquid fertilizers can also be used to supplement water column nutrients, especially if other plants are present in the tank.

CO2 Requirements: While Amazon Sword can grow without additional CO2, it will flourish and exhibit faster growth in tanks with CO2 supplementation. If you choose to inject CO2, monitor levels to avoid harming fish and other tank inhabitants.

Propagation

Amazon Sword propagates through runners and side shoots. To propagate, carefully separate the new plantlets from the main plant once they have developed several leaves and a sufficient root system. Plant these new shoots in the substrate, ensuring they have adequate space to grow.