Description
Vallisneria nana- Slender Beauty of Aquatic Plants
- Appearance: A graceful, coiled aquatic plant with long, narrow leaves.
- Size: Grows up to 30 to 80 cm in ideal conditions, with each leaf blade about 3 to 5 mm in width.
- Difficulty Level: Easy-to-moderate care level. Suitable for both beginners and experienced aquascapers.
Care Instructions
- Lighting: Vallisneria nana prefers moderate to high light intensity, although it can survive in lower light conditions.
- Substrate: Use a fine sand or planting substrate with small pebbles or gravel on top.
- Water Parameters: Keep the water temperature between 70-82°F (21-28°C), pH level between 6.5-7.5, and a hardness (GH/KH) of 5-12 dGH.
- Maintenance: Regularly trim the leaves to prevent excessive growth and keep your aquascape neat and tidy. Simply cut the leaf blades at the desired height and it will regrow. If cut too short, the leaves may not grow back due to the lack of nutrients or light availability.
Propagation
- Runners: This plant sends a lot of runners in ideal conditions. Cut each plant at the runners and plant each crown down into substrate with rich nutrients. It is best not to plant the crown too deep, the roots and white area of the base can be planted down and the green leaves above the substrate.
Additional Tips
- Vallisneria nana provides excellent cover and oxygenation for your aquarium inhabitants, making it an ideal choice for shrimp tanks or other low-light environments.
- This plant can grow slow until the roots settle in, but will thrive in well-maintained aquariums with proper care and conditions.
- To ensure the health of your Vallisneria nana, regularly check algae growth and trim off dying or decaying leaves.
