Tropica Echinodorus ‘Red Diamond’ in Pot

Description

Echinodorus ‘Red Diamond’

Echinodorus ‘Red Diamond’ appeared as a culture in the Ukraine, and is probably a cross between Echinodorus horemanni ‘Red’ and Echinodorus ‘Barthii’.
The resultant hybrid is an attractive plant with ruby-red sword-shaped leaves, 15-25 cm long.
Unlike many of the other Echinodorus-species, Echinodorus ‘Red Diamond’ remains moderate in size (20-30 cm wide roset), so it is extremely well suited as a solitary plant, even in small aquariums.
Increasing the nutrients in the substrate results in more abundant growth, while favourable light conditions promote the formation of the ruby-red leaves.

Plant Info

Tropica Echinodorus ‘Red Diamond’ as a solitary plant in SG aquascapes

‘Red Diamond’ is one of the more compact red swords, staying around a 20-30cm rosette, which makes it a rare Echinodorus that works as a solitary feature even in the smaller nano and rimless tanks common in Singapore HDB and condo homes. Its ruby sword-shaped leaves give instant colour contrast against green stems and carpets, and as a Tropica pot plant it arrives clean and largely free of pest snails.

Acclimate it by rinsing the rockwool, separating the plantlets, and planting the crown above the substrate. Because it is a heavy root feeder, push root tabs into the substrate near its base to fuel growth, and provide good light to deepen the red leaves. Our warm 27-29C water suits it well, and while CO2 is rated medium it will grow without injection, just more slowly and with somewhat smaller leaves.

See more carefully grown stock in our background plants category. For feeding heavy root plants read our root tabs guide, and our amazon sword care guide plus Echinodorus-only aquascape guide cover wider sword care.