{"product_id":"echinodorus-latifolius","title":"Dwarf Chain Sword | Helanthium bolivianum 'Latifolius'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Dwarf Chain Sword is a small, grassy carpeting plant – long sold as Echinodorus latifolius, it now belongs to the genus Helanthium. It runs across the substrate on runners to form a low green lawn, making a hardy foreground or midground filler that asks for little. Sold in a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHelanthium bolivianum 'Latifolius' comes from the shallow margins and slow waters of South America, rooted in rich, silty ground. Recreate that with a nutritious substrate, good light and stable warmth. It is a true aquatic and grows submerged long-term, spreading into a grassy patch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNarrow, strap-like light-green leaves, roughly 1 cm wide; kept in bright light it stays low at around 5–15 cm, while in dimmer light it stretches taller, up to about 30 cm. It chains outward on runners rather than forming a single rosette. The potted plant supplied is a young clump that spreads to fill in over several weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA foreground lawn in larger tanks or a midground group in smaller ones. Plant divisions a few centimetres apart and let the runners knit them together into a carpet. Keep it clear of tall shading plants so it stays short and dense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRemove the pot and rockwool, divide the clump into small plugs, and plant each in the substrate with a root tab nearby. It propagates prolifically by runners bearing plantlets, which root on their own and can be left to spread or separated and replanted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEasy to intermediate: moderate to high light keeps it low and carpeting, and while CO2 is not required it thickens growth. A root feeder, so use a nutrient substrate and root tabs, with liquid fertiliser to support it. Keep water at 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5. Growth is moderate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHelanthium bolivianum 'Latifolius' (formerly Echinodorus latifolius)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDwarf Chain Sword\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground \/ Midground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoot tabs (root feeder) and liquid fertiliser\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRunners with plantlets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community and aquascaped aquariums from 60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish – tetras, rasboras, corydoras, dwarf cichlids and gouramis – along with shrimp, which appreciate the grassy cover, and snails.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiggers and large herbivores – goldfish, large cichlids, silver dollars – will uproot the runners and shred the fine leaves. Vigorous burrowers disturb a young carpet before it establishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234104787235,"sku":"AA1319","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/echinodorus-latifolius-43161139216675-v2.webp?v=1790321528","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/echinodorus-latifolius","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}