Echinodorus major Care Guide
Echinodorus major is a large Brazilian sword with translucent, undulate light-green leaves, a classic specimen rosette for medium to large aquariums.
Overview
Echinodorus major is a sword plant in the family Alismataceae, native to eastern Brazil. It is a medium to large rosette with light-green, translucent submersed leaves of narrow oblanceolate form and an undulate (ruffled) margin. It is grown as a specimen plant, most often used in the middle ground of medium to large tanks, and can reach around 60 cm in good conditions.
Taxonomy
- Family: Alismataceae
- Genus: Echinodorus
- Scientific name: Echinodorus major
Habitat
The species is found in the eastern part of Brazil, where it grows mostly submersed in shallow rivulets. Like other Echinodorus it is a wetland plant that can also grow emersed when water levels fall.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F); reported tolerance 18-28 °C, optimum 24-26 °C
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 3-14 °dGH
- Lighting: medium; tolerates variable light with good substrate
- CO2: not necessary, but enhances growth significantly
- Growth rate: medium
- Maximum height: about 50 cm (up to 60 cm)
- Placement: midground to background specimen
Planting and care
As a heavy root feeder it needs a nutrient-rich substrate, which lets it tolerate fairly variable lighting. Added CO2 significantly enhances growth, although it is not necessary. Given its eventual size, it is best given space as a solitary specimen rather than crowded among other plants.
Propagation
Propagation is by proliferating inflorescences and by adventitious rosettes that form on the rhizome, which can be separated and replanted once rooted.