German name:
Dwarf sword plant
Scientific name:
Helanthium tenellum
Attitude:
in the nano aquarium, not in the shade of other plants, CO2 fertilization
Size:
approx. 5 – 10 cm high
Temperature:
10 – 35° C
pH:
5 – 7
GH:
0 – 30°dH
CH:
0 – 14°dH
propagation:
copious stolons creeping across the ground
Aquarium:
Nature aquariums or minicubes Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Helanthium tenellum kz01, CC BY-SA 4.0
The delicate, grassy dwarf sword plant Helanthium tenellum has very narrow leaves which, after the initial light green, can also turn dark green or olive green to reddish, depending on the level of light. With this colouring, they set interesting color impulses in the aquarium ground.
Before planting, the leaves are still lanceolate in shape, but then form a pointed shape in the water. They are approx. 1.5 mm wide and get slightly wider above the middle. In good keeping conditions, the plant forms a grass-like lawn.
distribution
The typical foreground plant, originally from South America, grows quickly and spreads through lateral shoots. The chains of plants cover the ground and form a beautiful, dense carpet of grass.
If the offshoots become too many or overlap, they should be removed and the lawn thinned out. The height of the leaves can also be adjusted by individually cutting back. In order to encourage lawn formation, the leaves can be cut back to 1 cm, which means that after a while the vegetation becomes denser and more lush than before.
husbandry conditions
Basically, the dwarf sword plant is easy to care for and easy to handle. When planting, care should be taken to ensure that the individual plants are placed a few centimeters apart, for example with tweezers. So they have enough space to grow in width. If there are emersed flowers, they can be removed before planting.
In order to create a dense «lawn», a high light intensity is important. Therefore, the aquatic plant should not be in the shade of other plants. When it comes to water values, the classic foreground plant is relatively undemanding and can even thrive in cold water tanks. Nevertheless, appropriate fertilization and micro and macronutrient administration is important. In order to promote growth, there should be nutrient-rich soil in addition to the care provided by CO2 fertilization. Some of these nutrients must be supplied. In addition to various other substances, magnesium and phosphate are of particular importance.
particularities
When the dwarf sword plant is in the shade, the leaves tend to remain light green to green, while they develop their attractive, delicate reddish color under intense light. With its fast growth and the density of its grass-like leaves, the plant is particularly popular for greening the aquarium floor and creating a nice, dense foreground. It is also particularly suitable for aquariums with pure plant growth or small fish.