In vast areas from India to New Guinea, a beautiful aquatic plant grows called Japanese Blixa (blyxa japonica). It is especially common in shallow areas - in coastal stripes, in the rice fields of irrigation canals. This plant owes its popularity to aquarists who use it in their amazingly beautiful aquarium compositions.
The appearance of the plant
Outwardly similar to a bush, Japanese blixa is a long-stemmed plant with short and tightly adjacent internodes. Narrow pointed leaves, extending from a rather powerful stem, can have a color from green to golden red. It mainly depends on the conditions of detention. The tips of the leaves slightly bend down, which gives the plant a particularly sophisticated look.
It blooms in small white flowers located on a long stem. Japanese Blixa is not large, its maximum height is 15 cm, this plant reaches about the same width.
Growth Features
Content requirements are quite moderate and do not cause any special difficulties. The main thing is that there should be sufficient lighting, additional nutrition to obtain the necessary color of the leaves and the supply of CO 2 . For Japanese blixes, acidic soils, rich in composition, are most preferable, because plant nutrition occurs mainly due to the root system. With enough iron in the aquarium and good lighting, the leaves become reddish. True, in some cases, this color may be caused by a lack of nutrients. If the lighting is poor, the color of the leaves becomes bright green.
For flowering, a high phosphate level is required. Then on small and long stems small white flowers will begin to appear. Even under optimal conditions, the rate of increase in plant growth cannot be called very fast. The height that a Japanese blix can reach, mainly depends on the degree of illumination. With a sufficient amount of light, the plant barely reaches 7-10 cm, but if the lighting is weak, it can stretch to the maximum length.
Blixa Japanese: maintenance and care
When caring for blix, you should be very careful about the composition of the water. This is of no small importance for such a sensitive plant. The most suitable is soft water, the indicator of which is equal to pH 5.5-7.5. The root system is a rather fragile part of the plant, and too hard water can destroy it, as a result the grass will be on the surface. It is recommended that high-quality filtration and water change (at least a fifth of it) 2 times a month. The optimum temperature maintained should be between 22 and 28 ° C. Regularly need to make the necessary root dressings and fertilizers, as well as provide a supply of CO 2 .
If the blix conditions are violated, the Japanese may lose its decorative characteristics. With insufficient lighting, as well as a lack of minerals or in too hard water, the growth of the plant is inhibited, the stem is partially exposed, and the remaining leaves become faded. At the same time, Blixa is considered a fairly stable resident of the aquarium, tolerates direct sunlight and the lack of heating.
Very carefully, various aquarium ecosystem care products should be used . They are used to suppress pathogenic microflora and algae. The most popular of all is Sidex. Subject to the required dosages, it does not harm plants. Cases of negative impact of "Sidex" on the Japanese blix occur when the recommended concentration or frequency of application is violated.
Soil and top dressing
Sand, small pebbles are perfect as soil. Its thickness should be at least 4 cm, and when planting plants under the roots, it is recommended to put small clay balls.
A plant may die if it is not timely fed. For this purpose, clay, sapropel or specialized substrates are usually used. Plant nutrition mainly occurs through the root system. But we should not forget about liquid fertilizers, the introduction of which helps to give the leaves an unusual reddish tint.
Breeding
Instead of long blix pagons, the Japanese, unlike other plants of this type, produces many lateral shoots. They are quite easy to separate from the main plant with scissors. This must be done carefully, since Blixa is a very fragile and light plant; damaging it is quite simple. Their transplantation can cause difficulty, since fixing these shoots with good buoyancy in the ground is often problematic. But rooting occurs quickly, and then the root system begins to develop very actively, due to which more and more shoots appear. Thus, Japanese Blixa gradually takes the form of a bush.
When such bushes form a carpet in the aquarium, they become cramped, so some of them can shed their roots and float to the surface. At the base of their outlet, you can see the young roots. Such a bush is enough to stick into the ground, and it will continue to grow further.
Application
Thanks to the famous Japanese Takashi Amano, who used the Japanese blix to form green bumps in the aquarium in the middle ground, this plant has gained popularity among aquarists. Blix also looks great in transition steps between plants of different plans, as well as as a background. It looks quite attractive among large stones, especially in combination with low-growing plants located in the foreground. It is best to plant a plant in the center, where it eventually forms a clearing. Small schooling fish look very good against the background of these green thickets.
Despite the modest appearance, this plant fits perfectly into the most original compositions. Suitable for both small aquariums and larger ones. Planted in the foreground in groups of 3-4 bushes, Japanese blixa will look very impressive. Photos of aquariums, where this plant is represented among others, will not leave anyone indifferent, because the magnificence of the underwater world always attracts the eye.