Syngonanthus 'Ruby' Care Guide
Syngonanthus 'Ruby' is a demanding red eriocaulon-like rosette plant of the Eriocaulaceae family that needs very soft, acidic water and CO2.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Syngonanthus 'Ruby' is a demanding eriocaulon-like rosette plant with red leaves arranged in a star shape. Like other members of the pipewort family, it requires very soft, acidic water with CO2 and an acidic nutrient-rich substrate, and is considered an advanced plant. Sufficient iron is important to maintain coloration.
Taxonomy
- Family: Eriocaulaceae
- Genus: Syngonanthus
- Scientific name: Syngonanthus sp. 'Ruby'
Habitat
The genus Syngonanthus belongs to the pipewort family Eriocaulaceae and is native to tropical Africa and Latin America, from Mexico and Cuba south to Argentina. Many species grow in moist, acidic soils and soft blackwater habitats. 'Ruby' is a cultivated aquascaping selection within this genus.
Growth requirements
- Light: high (intense lighting required, around 1 watt per liter)
- CO2: required
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 5.0-6.5
- GH: 1-6 °dGH (soft water; KH and GH ideally not over 5)
- Growth rate: slow
- Maximum height: about 10 cm
Placement
The red rosette is used as a midground accent and is highly valued in aquascaping. It needs a slightly acidic, nutrient-rich substrate such as aquasoil.
Propagation
Propagation is by adventitious plantlets; the genus is generally propagated by replanting the uppermost section of stems or by separating plantlets.
Propagating Syngonanthus sp. 'Ruby'
Overview
Syngonanthus sp. 'Ruby' is a rosette plant of the family Eriocaulaceae whose narrow red leaves radiate from a central crown like a star. As a member of Syngonanthus, it originates from very soft, acidic blackwater habitats, which is why it is treated as a demanding aquascaping species rather than a fast stem plant.
Unlike stem plants, you do not propagate 'Ruby' by topping and replanting cut tops. It is multiplied by division of the clump and by separating the daughter plantlets that form beside the mother rosette.
Propagation Method (Division / Plantlets)
Eriocaulaceae rosettes grow new leaves outward from a central crown. As the plant matures it produces baby plantlets and side shoots beside the parent, especially after a period of stress such as a change in conditions or being moved. These daughters can later be separated as independent plants.
- Division of the clump: separate distinct crowns once they are clearly visible apart from the main cluster.
- Lateral plantlets: detach the daughter rosettes that grow next to the mother once they reach a workable size.
Step-by-Step
- Wait until the plantlets beside the mother rosette reach a suitable size and the separate crowns are clearly distinct from the main cluster.
- Gently uproot the whole clump; the separation between plantlets becomes obvious once it is out of the substrate.
- Separate the crowns gently by hand, keeping the integrity of each crown so every piece keeps its own roots and leaves.
- For very small plantlets, use tweezers to pick them apart instead of fingers.
- Replant each rosette into rich aquasoil, spacing them so they have room to fill in.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
- Very soft, slightly acidic water (low GH and KH) as in its native blackwater rivers.
- Strong lighting to support the compact rosette and red coloration.
- Pressurised CO2 dosed generously, since Eriocaulaceae rosettes are CO2 demanding.
- Nutrient-rich aquasoil substrate at the root zone.
Maintenance
Give freshly divided rosettes time to root before disturbing them again. If many daughter plantlets appear at once, the clump can become overcrowded and deteriorate as a whole, so thin and replant the daughters once they reach a usable size rather than leaving them packed together.