How to Plant Echinodorus Bleheri Compacta

One of the favorite plants of aquarium hobbyists, Enchinodorus bleheri compacta, or Amazon Sword plant, is easy to grow and care for while adding instant impact and beauty to a natural aquarium. Kept at a temperature from 72 to 82 degrees with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, the Amazon Sword plant will grow nicely and provide hiding places for small fish and interesting areas for curious fish to explore. Be sure you buy the "compacta" variety, which grows 6 inches tall. Other varieties of the E. bleheri plants can reach 20 inches tall and will quickly take over a small tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Bare-root or potted Amazon Sword plants
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pick the spot in your aquarium for your plant. The Amazon Sword plant does well in the foreground in a large tank, but in a smaller tank, set the plant toward the back, out of the way of the filter.

    • 2

      Use your fingers to dig a small space in the aquarium gravel. If you are using bare-root plants, make your hole wide and deep. If you are installing a potted plant, make a space large enough to hold the pot or cover it entirely. The pot will anchor the plant.

    • 3

      Cut away any yellowed or damaged leaves and any roots that aren't white. Trim just the tips of the white roots to encourage growth. Check your plant for snails or snail eggs and remove them.

    • 4

      Hold your plant in the hole. Using your other hand, move the displaced gravel back over the plant's roots and gently pack gravel over the roots all the way around the plant.

    • 5

      Let go of the plant. If planted properly, your Amazon Sword plant should stay put. If it floats up to the top immediately or within a few hours, pack it in again. If necessary, use plant weights, which often come with the plants when you buy them.