Tonina 'Lotus Blossom' Care Guide
Tonina 'Lotus Blossom' is a demanding Eriocaulaceae stem plant with whorled white-tipped leaves that needs very soft, acidic water and strong CO2.
Overview
Tonina 'Lotus Blossom' is a demanding stem plant of the pipewort family with whorled, almost star-like leaves with white tips. It needs very soft, acidic water with strong CO2 and lighting, and an acidic substrate. Its slow growth means faster-growing neighbours can easily overgrow it; it is not a beginner's plant.
Taxonomy
- Family: Eriocaulaceae
- Genus: Tonina
- Scientific name: Tonina sp. 'Lotus Blossom'
- Trade lineage: Tonina fluviatilis
Habitat
Tonina fluviatilis grows in slow-flowing blackwater rivers and rivulets from Mexico to northern South America. As a typical soft-water plant it is suited to soft, rather acidic aquariums with a high CO2 concentration.
Growth requirements
- Light: high (strong lighting, around 1 watt per liter)
- CO2: required, around 20-40 mg/l reported
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 5.0-6.5
- GH: 1-6 °dGH (soft water; total hardness around 5 or below favorable)
- Growth rate: medium
- Maximum height: about 25 cm
Placement
It is planted in the midground to background, including Dutch-style layouts, on an acidic, nutrient-rich substrate such as aquasoil, with ample iron and micronutrients.
Propagation
Propagation is by cuttings; lateral shoots or shoot tips about 5 cm long are cut off and replanted.