TCulture Vallisneria Spiralis (Pot)

Description

Vallisneria spiralis, is one of the longest known, yet popular aquarium plants. This submerged plant has a wide distribution in Africa and the warmer parts of Europe and Asia. It forms dense, extended stands in lakes and rivers by its runners. The strap-shaped leaves are light to medium green, slightly transparent and about 5-15 mm wide. They vary greatly in length, one may expect a maximum length of 60 cm or more. Besides straight-leaved plants there are also forms with spirally twisted leaves. However this species is not named after such leaves but after the stalks of the female flowers that twist after flowering, as well as in other Vallisneria species. Also typical of the genus, long runners with “chains” of numerous plants arise from the leaf rosettes.
Vallisneria spiralis is known as an easy, fast growing aquarium plant that is also recommended for beginners. It does not need CO2 addition and prefers medium to high carbonate hardness. The light demand is moderate. A good nutrient supply via the water or also the bottom is benificial for its growth. The preferable temperatures lie between 20 and 28 °C. It propagates itself by its runners that have to be reduced occasionally. Very long leaves may be cut, but generally this Vallisneria should be planted in rather high tanks. This classic aquarium plant looks best as dense stand in the background or at the sidewalls of larger aquariums. With its fast growth, Vallisneria spiralis competes with algae, and its foliage provides a natural shelter for aquarium inhabitants. Its narrow, grass-like leaves set a vertical accent and contrast with broad-leaved, finely branched or red plants. This Vallisneria is also well suited for biotope aquariums and tanks where the temperature may drop below 20 °C.

Vallisneria Spiralis for easy background screens

Vallisneria spiralis is the classic, almost unkillable background grass, and we recommend it constantly to beginners building their first planted or community tank. Its strap-like leaves rise to the surface and sway in the current, forming a green curtain that hides equipment and gives fish a natural sense of cover. It propagates by runners, so one pot soon sends daughter plants across the back of the tank with no effort on your part.

This species shrugs off Singapore’s soft, slightly acidic tap water once dechlorinated and grows steadily in our warm rooms without a heater. It is a low-tech plant that does not need CO2, though it appreciates root tabs in inert substrate. One caution we always share: vallisneria dislikes liquid carbon dosing, which can melt it, so plan your tank chemistry around that if you keep it.

See the wider background plants range, and read our vallisneria care guide and runner propagation guide to fill the back fast.