Limnophila aromatica
Limnophila Aromatica (fragrant limnophilia) is a beautiful plant for the second or third level. It turns purple under intense light.
- Difficulty of cultivation: moderate
- Light requirement: medium
- CO₂ requirement: medium
- Adult plant height: up to 50 cm
- Growth: moderate
- Temperature: 22-28°C
- Placement in aquarium: second or third level
- Origin: Asia
- Cup diameter: 6 cm
Limnophila Aromatica (fragrant Limnophila, rice paddy weed) is a plant that has earned a place in aquariums around the world due to its unique appearance and leaf color. It is native to Asia, where it usually grows in rice paddies or swamps near water. It does well after the end of the rainy season in a dry place in a still moist, sandy soil. At high temperatures, the plant flowers, forms fruit, and then dies. Traditionally used as a spice, especially in Vietnamese cuisine. Its flavor is reminiscent of cumin and lemon. Currently, the plant can also be found in America and Australia.
Limnophilia Aromatica is a stalk plant that produces lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges. Their color depends on the intensity of light. If the plant has little access to light, its leaves are green. If the light is strong, the entire top of the plant is intense red and the leaves are purple on the underside.
In aquariums, plant it in the second or third level, leaving a distance of 1.5 cm between cuttings. It grows quite fast, its optimal pH is 6-7. It tolerates temperatures between 15 and 30 °C, but it is better to avoid extreme temperatures and keep it between 22 and 28 °C.
In aquariums it is propagated by cutting and planting young plants that form on the stems or from the tips. The plant does not require absolute CO₂ fertilization, but grows much faster with CO₂ addition.
To achieve the desired intense red-purple color of the leaves, the plant must be strongly illuminated. In addition, attention must be paid to the correct water parameters in the aquarium, especially the optimal iron, nitrate and phosphate content, so that the plant can absorb the nutrients from the water column. Due to its strongly developed root system, the plant grows best in active media.
Planting: The plant must be removed from the cup and thoroughly rinsed from the gel under running water. This is best done by placing the plant in a container of lukewarm water. Most of the gel will then fall off by itself. Divide the contents of the cup into 1-2 cm lumps and then set them at intervals of 1 to 2 cm.