Water parameters
Temperature20–28°C
pH6–7.5
General hardness (GH)2–12 dGH
Recommended range
Overview
'Vesuvius' is a form of the dwarf sword plant Helanthium bolivianum with very narrow, spirally twisted leaves; it was sold for a long time in the trade as Echinodorus 'Vesuvius'. Its leaves are a few millimeters wide, bright green and corkscrew-like. Its height stays between 10 and 20 cm. It produces daughter plants on runners above the substrate and, over time, forms a dense clump.
Planting and Placement
Plant it with the crown exposed, 4–5 cm apart, in the midground or, in large aquariums, in the foreground. A nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs speed up its development.
Care and Fertilization
- Light: Medium; in low light the leaves stretch and the spiral shape weakens.
- CO₂: Not required, but it speeds up growth and spreading.
- Fertilizer: A root tab every 2 months.
- Daughter plants at the tips of the runners can be cut off and planted elsewhere once they have a few leaves.
Propagation
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Common Problems
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Hobbyist notes
Things you won't find in books, learned by trial and error. The most helpful ones are on top.
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Change history and contributors
- Page created · October 16, 2026