Amazon Sword

[specks]

I have a varigated A/Sword in my 180ltr tank, my problem is that its looking really yucky as all the leaves are getting awful brown marks on them. All my other plants are in good condition, its a really striking plant - a good size - and a nice contrast both in shape and colour. Any ideas? I wondered if I was to throw it out and replace would another one go the same way? Im not a bad gardener when it comes to outside but know nothing about water plants. Would love to hear your views please.

 

[smithrc]

varigated?

as in green and white?

If so its not an amazon sword and probubly isn't even an aquatic plant...

Do you have a picture?

 

[specks]

Sorry no pic. Im a tecnophobe & wouldnt have a clue how to post one. Yes plant has leaves in green & white, it was bought from a repupatable supplier.

 

[Lateral Line]

smithrc's worries are shared by me. There are varigated cultivars of some popular plants, including some swords. They are "man made" by breeding. All truly aquatic varigated plants are more delicate then their normally coloured kin, and generally they require more light, in some cases a lot more light then the others.

That said, very few variegated aquatics would remotely be called green and white. Shades of green, or green with brown mottling, yes, but green and white seems a bit "out there".

A common plant sold for aquarium use which is green and white and could vaguely be described as sword like are Dracaena species, a common houseplant. These die under water, but because their leaves are pretty tough, don't decay quickly.

I'll try to find a picture, there have been several on the board before.

 

[specks]

I dont think its a Dracaena as I have had them in the house in the past. I'm inclined to think it is aquatic because of where I bought it from. I dont think they are the sort of people to fob you off with something that is not genuine, I might be wrong but I would be very surprised ( and very dissapointed ).

 

[smithrc]

this is an amazon sword... they have tall leaves with shirt 'stems' going to a central point with roots from that.

(not the best of close ups i'm affraid)

 

[Nospherith]

Specks, you have a terrarium plant. These varigated green/white terrarium plants are sold all the time as aquatics. Your best bet is to try and plant it in a pot and see how it grows outside of water. If it flourishes outside of water, then you'll know for sure.

I've never heard of any varigated aquatic swords. Care to post a reference?

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> I've never heard of any varigated aquatic swords.

There are many varigated swords, it is just that none of them are green and white. They tend to be shades of green, or brown/red mottled.

Echinodorus 'Ozelot' was one of the earliest varigated cultivars suitable for beginners, it is a cross between the "Leopard" cultivar of Echinodorus schluteri and Echinodorus barthii. Numerous other cultivars have been developed from "Ozelot", Tricolor, Rosé and Red Flame are some of the more commonly available.

More interesting is the "Marble Queen" cultivar of Echinodorus cordifolius. More difficult to grow, and requiring good light to keep the varigations, but a really nice "shades of green" varigated cultivar.

There are many other species which under good light show brown/red mottling.

If you search the web for Echinodorus cultivars, you'll find dozens, many of which show degrees of varigation. It is an "attractive" attribute so has been line bred into many groups.

What I said before holds though. They are generally weaker then the normal "species" plants and require more light. Some sources will say they have a varigated cultivar that does not require high light - beware, the plant may well grow fine, but the varigation disappears under poor light.

 

[Nospherith]

Interesting.

Perhaps this is what specks was talking about: http/www.azgardens.com/images/MarbleQueenRadican.jpg

Although, it seems way more common for people to get variegated terrestrials than hybrid swords.

 

[specks]

Thanks for the info & the pics guys. The plant I was sold is not an Amazon Sword. Now I dont know what it is. It has broad leaves but unlike the plant in your pics mine has leaves that grow out from the main stem all the way to the top. Does that make sense? The pics you have posted show leaves growing out from the base of the plant. I wish I was more knowledgeable on a pc so I could post pics myself. Sorry I am making this so hard for you. I do apprieciate all you have done to help me.

 

[Lateral Line]

Amazon Swords are "rosette" plants. The meristem, (growing point), is within the "crown" and the leaves grow from there. The Crown is the thick piece above the roots, (you should never bury the crown of a rosette plant).

Plants which have a stem from which leaves appear are stem plants. Very different, and totally different cultivation.

Do you have a machine readable picture, we can post it for you.

 

[Sean_Buckley]

What about my so-called Echinodorus 'Aflame.' The new leaves are a deep, deep red, and the larger they get, they turn green. They have a short stem, then wide, rounded leaves. I think it is an Echinodorus osiris, but I'm not sure. Is it a terrestrial plant or an Osiris?
Sean

 

[specks]

Well problem now solved. When I looked into the tank this morning "The Plant" had started to change colour - around the brown marks on the leaves were (almost) lime green markings. Plant is now in the bin & has been replaced with something completely different. Wont be buying one of those again. Many thanks to you all for your response. I know it would have been easier for you if I could have provided a picture, but I hav'nt the faintest idea how to go about that. Thanks again.

 

[B75]

I had the same problem with one of my plants, going brown and after reading this thread I have now binned the plant and replaced it with more amazon swords.

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> What about my so-called Echinodorus 'Aflame.'

E. osiris is known for having red leaves which become green, but then so are several of the hybrids and cultivars. Red Flame also has red leaves that become green as ithey age, Rosé also fits that description. There are a few others but these tend to have obviously elongate leaves which would take a stretch of the imagination to call round.

E. osiris in it's emergent form has round leaves, but the submerged leaves are more elongated.

Got a picture?