Description
Jungle Vallisneria, or Vallisneria americana, is a highly popular and impressive aquatic plant native to North and Central America. Known for its remarkable height, it thrives in a wide range of freshwater environments from slow-moving rivers to ponds. Hobbyists love this plant for its ease of care and its ability to rapidly create a dense, natural-looking curtain of greenery at the back of an aquarium.
Care
Jungle Val is highly adaptable and can be maintained in low to moderate lighting. It does not require CO2 injection, though supplementation will boost its growth rate. Because it is a heavy root feeder, it requires a nutrient-rich substrate; if you use basic sand or gravel, the addition of root fertilizer tabs is essential to support its extensive root system.
Propagation
This plant easily propagates asexually by sending out horizontal runners (stolons) across or just under the substrate. Small plantlets will naturally develop along these runners. Once a new plantlet has grown a few distinct leaves and an independent root system, you can safely cut the runner and leave it in place or replant it elsewhere.
Trimming
As the leaves grow, they will trail horizontally across the water surface. If they begin to block too much light, they can be trimmed back using sharp scissors. Be aware that the cut ends will not regrow and may show minor browning, but the mother plant will quickly produce new shoots from the basal rosette.
Appearance
- Shape: rosette
- Size: large
- Leaf Width: 2.5 cm
- Leaf Length: 180 cm
- Color: Green
Notes, Tips, and Considerations
- Highly sensitive to liquid carbon supplements containing glutaraldehyde; exposure can cause the cell walls to rupture in a process known as melting.
- Tolerates a wide variety of water parameters but generally thrives and grows best in medium to hard water.
Naturally Found
- Regions
- North America
- Countries: United States, Canada, Mexico
- Central America
- North America
- Environment
- Habitat: river, lake, pond
- Water Type: freshwater
- Water Depth: 0.5 – 3 m
- Water Flow: slow, moderate
- Light: low, medium
- Temperature: 18 – 28 °C
- Humidity: high
- Substrate: sand, gravel, mud
Closing
With its undemanding nature and lush vertical growth, Jungle Val is a fantastic choice for providing background depth and an excellent hiding place for fish and fry.
