Red-cinnamon pinnatifolia belongs to the family of shale perennials and is an exotic aquarium plant. Due to random growth and strong branching, it is considered a good option for containers with viviparous fish. Fry can easily hide in its thickets. Regular pruning is required to prevent surface shoots. If there are shrimps in the aquarium, then they will easily clean the leaf plate of the plant from unwanted suspension.
General information. Habitat
Redstem pinnatifolia is a natural variety of Brazilian pinnatifolia. The native land of the plant is North America, Cuba, Mexico. In its natural habitat grows in depth and shallow water with clean, clear water. If its level is very low, then the plant becomes surface. Depending on the conditions, its appearance is slightly different:
- In the air, there is an upright stalk on which there are rugged, green feather-like leaflets with a glossy water-repellent surface.
- Under water - leaf plates take on a more elegant look.
Regardless of where it grows, the stem becomes brownish red even in low light, which is a hallmark of this species. Other pinnacles require bright light.
Description
Red-cinnamon pinnacle, the photo of which is presented in the article, under the conditions of cultivation in an aquarium, can reach a height of fifty centimeters. Depending on the surrounding conditions, its stems and leaves take a variety of colors. Pink or brown leaves resembling hairs or a feather collected in whorls depart from a straight and thin stem in different directions. Their location is erratic, normal whorls are rare. The color of the stem is dark red or reddish brown. The stalk needs special care, it needs pruning so that it does not turn into a surface plant.
The root system is poorly developed. Roots creeping along the surface of the soil are long and very thin. The plant has the ability to grow rapidly, for the containment of which many give birth to special fish, lovers to feast on this exotic plant.
The content of red-stemmed cinnamon in the aquarium is allowed both freely floating and rooted in the ground. They plant it in groups (two or three bushes) in the background, as it forms dense thickets.
Water requirements
The plant is very thermophilic, so it requires special conditions - high temperature in the aquarium. For this reason, it can not be planted with cold-resistant vegetation. In the winter months, the temperature should be about 18, in the summer - 25 degrees. Pure water is also a prerequisite for its maintenance. Change requires 1/3 of the volume weekly. The following water parameters are considered optimal: acidity - in the range of 6.2–7.2; rigidity - from 2 to 14 degrees.
Mandatory filtration, as the plant does not tolerate various suspensions and particles of dirt in the water. They settle on leaflets and interfere with the absorption of nutrients, which can lead to starvation and death. And also the appearance of the pinnatifolia (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) spoils.
Lighting
The plant loves light, so be sure to have good aquarium lighting. For these purposes, fluorescent lamps with a power of 0.4 W / l are suitable. The daylight hours are approximately twelve hours. Thanks to him, the leaf plate has a dark green, and the stem has a dark or brown-red hue.
The lack of light adversely affects the plant, it becomes pale and greatly extended. In addition, it should be protected from direct sunlight. When they fall on the leaves, the latter lose their attractiveness, brown spots appear on them.
Soil, top dressing
The best soil is large river sand with an average degree of siltation. At the bottom of the aquarium, pour it up to about three centimeters. However, if gravel is at the bottom, then the red-cinnamon pinnacle is planted in small pots. They are placed along the walls.
Despite the fact that this culture does not require additional nutrition, to give the bush splendor and brightness, it is desirable to monthly feed with liquid mineral fertilizers and supply CO2. And also experienced aquarists advise to plant a clay ball at the roots of the plant. Thanks to him, the plant will have a reliable root system.
Breeding
Reproduction of cinnamon dwarf stem is carried out using cuttings. A young shoot is separated from the mother bush and planted in the ground. There are two ways to do this:
- The plant is not removed from the soil, and the required length is cut from the top of the mother plant. Each handle should have at least three internodes. After a while, new sprouts will appear.
- The plant is pulled out of the ground, young shoots are cut and planted back.
Cirrus pinnatifolia: reviews
This exotic culture is appreciated by aquarists for their good decorative qualities. Below are some comments and reviews about this plant:
- with proper care, pinnacle forms a beautiful thicket;
- it is a rather fragile plant with an amazing color;
- it is important to maintain certain water parameters;
- easily propagated;
- has a very fast growth;
- in addition to the red-stem, there are many other no less interesting species of pinnacle;
- It is necessary to maintain the perfect purity of the water in the aquarium.
Other species of pinnacle
Several varieties of this unusual plant are known. Let's consider some of them:
- Christmas-tree - is unpretentious in leaving, emits a large amount of oxygen. He got his name for strongly dissected leaves with needles, which reaches a length of five centimeters. Its color is from light green to bluish.
- Brazilian is a very beautiful plant, with bright green leaves collected in bunches. In the dark, the leaves curl up and open in the light.
- Matogros green - in the aquarium forms openwork thickets that look advantageous against other plants.
- Matogros red - red leaves are finely dissected and collected in small bunches. Thanks to the bright light, they have a golden hue.
A distinctive feature of pinnacles is the diversity of leaves, that is, leaflets located above the water differ from those that are immersed in water. Plants of all types are very beautiful and have a different color. At home, dark red, emerald or saturated green species are most often grown. Lush and tall bush takes its rightful place in the aquarium composition.
Cirrus pinnatifolia: problems that aquarists encounter
Aquarium plants are a link in maintaining biological balance. They need good maintenance, attention and care. Regardless of whether an experienced aquarist or a novice, both are able to face some problems when growing plants. If this happened, then you should pay attention to:
- Lighting - when choosing it, the height of the aquarium must be taken into account. Cirrus leaves are demanding in good lighting.
- The amount of CO 2 supplied is the main building material for plant cells. The optimal concentration of gas in an aquarium with this exotic crop is 15-30 mg / l.
- Daylight hours - it should be twelve hours.
- The presence or absence of top dressing - a disadvantage, as well as an overabundance, are harmful to the plant. Fertilizers are necessary for him in small quantities. However, if they have contributed too much, then this can easily be fixed by changing the water. And the disadvantage can be compensated by the additional introduction of complex fertilizer.
- Water parameters - the intensity of the consumption of fertilizers by plants, in particular, CO 2 , depends on the level of acidity. And since this species of cinnamon leaves prefers acidic medium and hard water, it is considered optimal to maintain acidity in the region of 6–7.
- Soil quality - perhaps it does not match this type of plant.
Conclusion
Thanks to the plants in the aquarium, biological equilibrium is created, they not only create a beautiful background, but also saturate the water with oxygen. Red-stem pinnatifolia has good decorative qualities. It grows rapidly and forms beautiful lace thickets. Therefore, it is readily used to decorate aquariums. It is planted both in the background and around the perimeter. Bright and long-lasting lighting favorably affects the plant. It becomes bright and strong. The inhabitants of the aquarium, both small and large, will easily find a reliable shelter in the thickets of pinnacle bushes.