Propagating Echinodorus martii (Ruffled Amazon Sword)

A practical guide to multiplying the ruffled Amazon sword Echinodorus martii through adventitious plantlets on its flower stalk and through crown division.

Overview

Echinodorus martii, the ruffled Amazon sword, is a large rosette sword close to E. major, prized for strongly undulating translucent leaves. Like all members of the genus, it is by nature a marsh and bog plant that can grow submersed, making it a classic specimen plant for nature-style aquariums.

It is not propagated from stem cuttings. New plants come from adventitious daughter plantlets on the flower stalk and from dividing a mature crown or rhizome.

Propagation Method (Adventitious Plantlets / Division)

Across the genus, propagation is by division or by adventitious new plants developing on submerged flowering stems. If the inflorescence forms submersed, small plantlets form instead of flowers. A healthy E. martii therefore sends up a flower stalk on which the submersed nodes grow daughter rosettes.

Each node or whorl, with its three bracts, is able to make at least three plantlets, so a single stalk can yield many young plants. Division of a large clump is the alternative when no stalk is present.

Step-by-Step

Wait for a mature plant to push up a flower stalk.
Keep the stalk submersed so plantlets form instead of flowers; anchor it down under the surface with thread and a stone if needed.
Let plantlets develop leaves and roots at the nodes; each whorl can carry three or more.
When a plantlet has its own root system, remove it from the stalk and plant it in rich substrate.
When all plantlets are gone, remove the spent stalk.
To divide instead, lift the clump and separate it into pieces that each keep roots and leaves, then replant.

Conditions for Healthy Growth

Echinodorus prefer good light and grow best in a deep, nutrient-rich substrate, and additional CO2 often helps strong growth. Most need tropical or sub-tropical temperatures. As a large sword, E. martii needs room and steady feeding to hold its broad ruffled leaves.

Maintenance

Trim away old or damaged outer leaves at the base to keep light on the centre of the rosette and stop the plant overshadowing neighbours. Replenish root tabs periodically and keep nitrate and iron available so the translucent leaves stay firm.