Live Plants & Neutrients

🌿 Ludwigia sp. ‘Guinea’ (Ludwigia senegalensis) is a striking stem plant prized in aquascaping for its vivid red coloration and intricate leaf veining. Originally from Africa, it’s now a rare but popular choice among advanced aquarists.

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📝 Description
– Scientific name: Ludwigia senegalensis (formerly Ludwigia sp. ‘Guinea’)
– Appearance: Deep red leaves with green and light-colored veins; in optimal conditions, leaves show a full red surface with a central vein.
– Growth habit: Upright stem plant; can grow submerged or emersed (creeping form above water).
– Placement: Best used in the mid-ground of aquascapes due to its moderate height and visual impact.

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🌱 Growing Tips

💡 Lighting
– Requires high light intensity, especially with a strong red spectrum to enhance coloration.
– In low light, leaves turn more green and lose vibrancy.

🧪 Nutrients & Substrate
– Thrives with rich substrate feeding, especially nitrogen in ammonia form.
– Needs a balanced fertilizer regimen—deficiencies can quickly lead to stunted, dark leaf tips.

💨 CO₂ & Water Parameters
– Benefits from stable CO₂ injection, though it can survive in low-tech setups with cooler temperatures.
– Prefers slightly soft water, but this is not strictly necessary.

✂️ Maintenance
– Propagate by trimming tops and replanting.
– Bottom stems will sprout side shoots if healthy.
– Space stems adequately to prevent overcrowding and ensure light penetration.

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⚠️ Challenges
– Not beginner-friendly due to its sensitivity to lighting, nutrients, and CO₂ fluctuations.
– Requires prompt attention to nutrient imbalances to avoid rapid decline.

Anubias glabra ‘Variegated’ is a striking aquatic plant known for its unique white variegation on lanceolate leaves. This variety is also referred to as Anubias minima ‘Variegated’
Description:
– Leaf Shape: Narrow, lanceolate leaves with white variegation, though some leaves may appear entirely green.
– Growth Habit: Forms a creeping rhizome with long, branched adhesive roots, developing a dense, bushy appearance over time.
– Size: Reaches a height of approximately 12 cm, with leaves measuring around 12 cm long and 2.8 cm wide.
– Placement: Ideal for aquariums and paludariums, often used in the middle ground on wood or rocks.
Facts:
– Origin: Native to streams in tropical forests of West Africa.
– Light Requirements: Prefers medium to low light to prevent algae growth on leaves.
– Temperature Range: Thrives in temperatures between 21–27°C.
– Growth Rate: Very slow-growing, making it a low-maintenance choice.
– Care: Undemanding, but benefits from macro- and micronutrient supplementation and CO₂
– Adaptability: Tolerates a wide range of water hardness and pH levels (5.5–8.0)
– Uses: Suitable for aquascaping and terrarium setups, adding visual interest.
This plant is a gem for aquascaping enthusiasts, combining aesthetic appeal with ease of care.