Blyxa Japonica

Blyxa japonica grows in the rice paddies and shallow waters of Asia and at first glance looks like a clump of grass. It actually consists of narrow, long leaves arranged in a spiral on a short stem; these stems branch and build dense clumps 8–10 cm high. Under strong light the leaf tips take on a bronze, orange or reddish tone. It is often used at the base of stones and driftwood in nature aquariums. It needs soft water, a nutrient-rich substrate and regular CO₂; if these conditions are not met, it melts.

• Separate the clumps into individual stems and plant them 2–3 cm apart and 2 cm deep.
• It is used in the foreground or midground, at the base of stones and between pieces of driftwood.

• Light: High.
• CO₂: Required.
• Water: Soft (GH 1–8), slightly acidic.
• Fertilizer: Active substrate and root tabs; with nutrient deficiency the leaves turn pale.
• Trimming: Lengthening stems are cut and replanted; when clumps get crowded, they are separated and thinned out.