Echinodorus Major

Echinodorus major, formerly known as E. martii, is a large sword plant from eastern Brazil. Its long, strap- or broad lance-shaped leaves are light green, with distinctly wavy, ruffled edges. In the aquarium it grows to 40–50 cm and spreads into a wide rosette. Unlike many other sword plants, it tends to stay submerged; it has little tendency to send up emersed leaves.

The roots are buried with the crown left exposed. Because its roots spread widely, it needs at least 6–8 cm of nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. It is used in the background or as a focal plant in aquariums of at least 150 liters and 50 cm in height.

• Light: Medium.
• CO₂: Not required; if available, growth speeds up.
• Fertilizer: A root tab once a month; with iron deficiency, new leaves turn pale.
• Cut old leaves in the outer ring at the base; it can be propagated by dividing the rootstock.