Ambulia

Ambulia adds a soft texture to the aquarium with its feathery, finely divided light green leaves arranged in whorls along the stem. From a distance it looks very much like cabomba; the easy way to tell them apart is the leaf arrangement: in cabomba the leaves are opposite and fan-shaped, while in ambulia each node has many fine leaves forming a whorl.

It is much less demanding than cabomba: it grows in medium light, without CO₂ and across a wide range of water parameters. Because it grows fast and uses up excess nutrients in the water, it is a good "helper" plant that competes with algae in newly set-up aquariums. Its dense leaves provide hiding places for fry and small fish.

Do not release it into the wild: In the United States, ambulia is on the list of prohibited noxious weeds as an invasive species. Trimmings and surplus plants must never be dumped into lakes, streams or canals.

• The stems are separated one by one, the leaves on the lower 2–3 nodes are removed and the stem is buried 3–4 cm deep.
• Leave about 3 cm between stems; plant in clusters in the background and corners.
• Because it grows fast, it is placed not at the front but in the back areas where trimming is easy.

• Light: Medium; in strong light it grows denser with shorter internodes, and the tips may turn slightly bronze.
• CO₂: Not required; if added, growth speeds up noticeably.
• Fertilizer: Liquid fertilizer a few times a month is enough; when nutrients are scarce, new leaves turn pale.
• Trimming: When it reaches the surface it spreads across it and shades the plants below; trim it from the top once a week or every two weeks.

It propagates very easily from top cuttings; every healthy cut top roots quickly. The cut lower stems also produce side shoots.

• Bare lower stems: Tops spreading across the surface shade the lower leaves. Trim regularly and, if needed, replant the cluster with fresh tops.
• Thin, leggy stems with long internodes: Light is insufficient.
• Debris clinging to the leaves: The fine leaves trap floating particles; filtration and regular water changes keep it looking good.