The full name is Ludwigia brevipes (Latin name Ludwigia Brevipes) or short-legged aquatic plant. It is unusual for its elegance and adds sophistication to any water and surface space. The native land of the plant is North America, but this foreigner has taken root perfectly in the aquarium space of Russian fish lovers.
Among the green waters
The submerged form of the plant is easily cultivated, despite the fact that the southeastern and eastern natural landscapes of the United States are home. It prefers wetlands in the natural environment, but requires clean water and light in artificial ponds.
It forms lush bushes in the center or as a background of an artificial reservoir. In appearance, it is similar to Ludwig arcuate - a close relative, growing in the same latitudes as Ludwig Brevipes. Only a professional aquarist can distinguish between these two species.
The plant can exist in shallow water, in shallow flat vessels with water covering the roots of the sissy.
Where the fish was
Aquarium fish feel great under the protection of the long stems of Ludwigia brevipes.
The plant is unpretentious in content, but complex in structure.
What is Ludwig Brevipes? Description of the plant below.
- The stems are equipped with many lateral branches.
- The leaves of the plant are an arched plate, which in length and width reaches 4 cm and 5 mm, respectively. At the edges they are slightly wavy.
Ludwig is quite unpretentious, but still requires certain rules of cultivation and maintenance. Prefers neutral water, the average temperature is 22-28 degrees.
If there is a lot of iron in the water, the leaves of ludwig acquire a reddish color. At first they are green at the stem, but over time they gradually change color to orange and reddish with respect to the tip of the leaf.
To achieve the desired color, you can artificially feed the plant by adding carbon dioxide to the water.
Take a look at the photo of Ludwig Brevipes below - this is an adult plant with multi-colored leaves.
Growth and safe haircut
Ludwig's short-legged normal growth provides ample light. Under favorable conditions, it grows quite quickly, up to 10 cm per month.
It is better to place the plant on the side shelves of the aquarium, planting it in separate pots. It can be grown without soil, but in this case the ludwig will not be decorative enough.
This is a compact bush with a height of 30 cm and a width of just over five centimeters.
All stalks that are knocked out or outstripped in the growth of the main bush must be carefully cut.
Cut tops of stems can be used to propagate the plant.
For this:
- Cut the top of the stem - it will be a stalk for growing.
- A shank of 10 cm long is immediately planted in the ground or left to float on the surface until the roots appear.
- Planted in the ground, deepening the first whorl of leaves.
Ludwig Brevipes: maintenance and care
Usually people try to plant ludwig on the middle or background plan of the aquarium.
For contrast, you can plant bright green plants or other types of ludwigia nearby.
Beautiful design of the aquarium is ensured by planting 2-3 bushes together, cutting the tops. The plant will quickly form lateral processes, and the bushes will grow magnificently.
Looks great ludwig, planted "ladder".
The root system of the plant is weak, so proper care is important:
- In order for the plant to acquire bright orange and red tops, it is necessary to add additional trace elements with iron content, enrich the soil.
- Unpretentiousness and the ability to adapt to any conditions, allows you to grow ludwig both in large-sized aquariums, and in small small containers for fish.
Large family
Ludwig brevipes or short-legged, belongs to the extensive family of Onagrikovs.
A straight and elongated stem is decorated with simple leaves. The flowers of the plant appear above the surface of the water, in the axils of the leaves.
The flower consists of eight yellow petals and sepals. Under natural conditions, this species of ludwig easily interbreeds with other plant species.
Today, more than 70 cultivars of ludwig are known. They differ not only in color and shape of the leaves, but also in bloom. There is, for example, Guinean ludwig with bright raspberry oval leaves and a pattern of yellow veins on the surface of the leaf.
Extraordinary in the brightness of the leaves is another relative from a large family - Ludwig Swamp in the photo below.
Benefits Among Aquarium Plants
The decoration of the underwater world of the aquarium is achieved by the advantage of Ludwig Brevipes in that she is able to grow horizontally or at a large angle, even without enough light.
Cut stems can not be planted, but removed inside the bush, thereby compacting it, making it more magnificent and voluminous.
Due to this, the plant creates large decorative groups that can be compacted or, conversely, whimsically planted for a beautiful and original design of the aquarium.