Amazon Swords

Amazon Swords

There are two plants commonly sold as amazon swords. They are Echinodorus bleheri and Echinodorus amazonicus. E. bleheri is sometimes called the broad leafed amazon sword, and E. amazonicus is occasionally referred to as the narrow leaf amazon sword. I have read and heard that E. bleheri is the more commonly available of the two. Hybrids and cultivars are also available for sale.

These large plants can make a beautiful focal point in an aquarium. They are best suited for large aquariums as they can get anywhere from 12 inches to 20 inches, occasionally bigger. Higher light levels make them stay a bit shorter and look more full. They need a nutrient rich substrate. Adding clay or laterite or something similar under the gravel or using a plant specific substrate will help keep these plants happy. If you have just regular gravel, adding root tabs at the base of the plant will help it out. Their roots grow very large so a thicker, loose substrate bed is a good idea. I have my substrate at about 4 inches deep and the roots of my swords go down to the glass on the bottom and spread outwards. The amazon swords also seem to benefit from added iron. Their leaves tend to turn yellow and die off quicker without it. I have read that they do best in softer water, but I have somewhat hard water and have no problems growing them and getting planlets from them.

Often when you buy an amazon sword they have been grown emerged (out of the water). It is easier for the growers to grow them this way. Because they are grown like this, often when you take them home the leaves will suddenly start to die off. This is because of two reasons. One, the plant needs to shed its emerged leaves and grow leaves more suitable for submerged living. The second reason is transplant shock. It is common for plants to loose their leaves and grow new ones when moved. I have found that the amazon swords grow their new leaves in very quickly. If you purchase them in a pot they are sometimes less likely to loose their leaves when brought home.