Ailing swordplant?

[themusician]

I've had a large swordplant in my tank for about a month now. I don't know the exact type of sword plant, but it has very large marbled green and white leaves. I didn't treat it so well for the first 3 weeks I had it, but I'm hoping I can bring it around now. My other plants are bouncing back, but the sword isn't.

I recently upgraded a lot of stuff so now my 20gallon tank has a 65w light, CO2, and regular Flourish treatments. I've had flourite substrate with a layer of regular gravel on top all along.

Anyway, I'm seeing two things happen to my sword plant:

1. The plant has never really taken root. I was removing a dead leaf at the base the other day and it was still just as loose in the gravel as the day I bought it. It now seems to be tipping a bit to the side.

2. The leaves are dying, but they die from the bottom up. The stem gets soft, brown, and slimy, and then the leaf collapses. I've lost two this way and I'm about to lose one more, leaving me with only three leaves.

What should I do? Am I missing some nutrient? Do I need to replant it and hope it takes root? (I'm wondering if I need to plant it deeper) Do I just wait?

[kid_fishboy13]

are u fertilizing your tank? is it in iron rich substrate? i dont know much about plants so can someone else verify

[DaleJr08]

Swords are heavy root feeders, dosing in the water collum may not be enough for it. If you have some root tabs, put a couple under the sword and it will take off. It may also be that its not a true aquatic plant. There are a couple swords being sold that will die when kept under water. Post a picture of it and we can help you further.

John

[themusician]

Okay, hang on. Let me see if I can get a decent picture. I bought it at PetSmart, so it very well may not be a proper aquatic plant (which would be a shame, because it's my favorite one in the tank!!)

[themusician]

Okay, here's a few pictures. My camera doesn't work well enough to turn off the flash in low light, so they're not great, but hopefully you can get the idea. The leaf on the left in the third picture is the one with the currently rotting stem.

[Algenco]

A little hard to be certain, but I don't believe that is an aquatic plant

[Dave66]

That's one of the man-made hybrids; Echinodorus 'Ozelot Green'

Dave

[themusician]

Thanks Dave. Is that an aquatic plant?

[Futureboy]

it looks like something ive got in my garden

im not sure if this is the case with all aquatic plants but i read that if the plant stands up by itself out of water it isnt a true aquatic plant

maybe dave could shed some light on the problem

[Futureboy]

oh wow too slow

[Dave66]

Thanks Dave. Is that an aquatic plant?

All the Echinodorus available in the hobby are to a lesser or greater extent. One you have is aquatic.

Dave

[themusician]

Okay. Any idea why my leaves/stems are rotting from the bottom up?

[themusician]

Hmm...every picture and article that I read online about echinodorus ozelot green says the leaves have red spots. Mine has white spots...

[Dave66]

They come in both color forms; red and white.

Dave

[themusician]

Gotcha. I guess I'll try some root tabs and see if I can save it.

[themusician]

So I did a little more research on common plants that are sold at PetSmart, and I think what I have is actually a Brazilian Sword plant. I've attached a picture. The pointed tips of the leaves look more right and it does have the white marbling.

And if that's the case, I'm sunk, because the Brazilian Sword is not an aquatic plant. Oh well.

[ruecole]

If it's indeed a Brazilian Sword, pull it out of your tank, plant it in a nice big pot and you'll soon have a very nice (and hardy) houseplant. :biggrin:

I've got a HUGE Brazilian Sword AKA African Peace Lily in my living room that I just love. If you forget to water it, it'll let you know by drooping leaves. Pour in a litre or two of water and it'll perk right back up again. Over water it and it'll start losing leaves. Drain out the water and it'll perk right back up again. Very hardy plant! It sprouts really pretty white flowers from time to time, too.

Hope that helps!

Rue

[themusician]

Just an update. I did a large water change today to prepare for getting my first fish. As the water level in the tank sank (ha ha), so did the sword. It essentially just fell over out of the gravel. I picked it up and checked out the roots and they looked terrible. They were no longer than when I bought the plant a month ago and many of them felt soft and mushy.

So now I need another large plant to put in that corner. That sword was kind of the main focal point of my tank. It's a shame it wasn't actually an aquatic plant!!

I hate to throw away the sword plant, since it does seem to be hanging in there, if just barely. I may plant it in a pot (as suggested by ruecole) just for fun and see what happens. ;)

[CAF]

Why don't you try Bolbitis heudelotii or African Water Fern?

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