For decoration and the creation of a habitat for our fish we can use both artificial and natural plants. Therefore, today we are going to talk about a plant of the genus Limnophyla called ambulance (Limnophyla sessiliflora).
Do you want to know more about the care and utility of this plant in your aquarium?
Characteristics of the Ambulia
In general, all the people who have an aquarium and use live plants for their decoration look for plants of this genus. The reasons are due to their appearance, the intense green color and its ease, both in cultivation and maintenance. The Ambulia it is one of the most maintained plants of this genus for its appearance and intense color.
It comes from Southeast Asia and lives in areas where the water has very little or no currents. They are located in the middle and superficial areas of the water level. Those that are located near the surface are an obstacle for other plants closer to carrying out photosynthesis, since they occupy quite large surface areas.
Thanks to its color and its leafy shape, It gains quite a lot of popularity with all the aquarists. It has a vegetative part formed by a stem of about four or five millimeters in diameter that is divided into numerous internodes more or less located one centimeter apart. Leaves emerge from each one, the structure of which consists of a central nerve and is surrounded by leaf tissue. The leaves are placed as if it were a palm tree. That is, several extensions are being formed. A new lateral shoot can emerge from each internode and, in a short time, can become a new stem again.
One of the most attractive areas of the plant is found in the highest part of the stem. It is the typical head of new leaves that grow indefinitely. The roots are found in the lowest part of the stem and usually come into contact with the substrate. They are white. This plant has the special characteristic that the roots can come out from internodes that are at a higher distance from the ground.
The whole plant has a very intense and bright green color and if the light conditions are optimal they will offer a color similar to that of emerald. Regarding the height, it can be said that the stems reach half a meter in length, normally, although it can reach one meter in length. So to keep these plants in a healthy state, we will need large aquariums.
Requirements and cares
This plant is not too demanding when it comes to cultivation and maintenance. If grown correctly, it can grow up to two inches each week. They also adapt well to many types of water and light. Just by giving it a little care, we can have it vigorous and full of color.
As mentioned before, given the size that the plant can reach and the rapid rate at which it grows, it is important to keep it in the aquarium. with a height of more or less 50 cm or more. If you have a smaller aquarium, you will need to prune it more often. A requirement that you must have is a substrate composed of medium grain and rich in minerals (especially iron, which serves to enliven the green color). The grains that you put in the substrate should not become too compacted, since the roots of the Ambulia are very fragile. As soon as they weaken a bit, they are very prone to rot.
As for the amount of light they need, it is usually between 0,7 and 1,5 watts per liter of water. If it is less than this amount, the plant will not be able to grow and if, on the contrary, it is higher, it will end up burning due to saturation. The best light so that it can grow well and maintain its deep green color is monochromatic white light.
Regarding the pH necessary for the plant to live well, it has to be around between 6 and 8,5, the hardness being between 5 and 30 ° dGH. The temperature of the water must be between 22 and 30 ° CAlthough these plants are able to tolerate some sudden changes in temperature without problems. The most optimal growth that the plant can experience is between 24 and 27 ° C. If the water is above these temperatures, it will grow more slowly and if it is below the same. The survival limits of the plant are between 20 and 30 ° C.
It is highly recommended to fertilize this plant once a week with a special liquid fertilizer for aquatic plants. It must also be paid once a month with a liquid compost in pills buried next to the stem.
Since the stem is very fragile, it must be kept in places where water currents are moderate or null. The diffusion of CO2 in the water helps its growth.
This plant is ideal for decorating outdoor ponds, not just aquariums. In these external environments they are able to tolerate without problems direct sunlight throughout the day and streams of water that fluctuate temperatures during the day and night. It is impossible keep it in places where the ambient temperature drops below 20 ° C.
Advantages of the Ambulia
This plant is very suitable for those tropical and temperate aquariums. Apart from decorating, it is able to oxygenate the water, since it extracts a large amount of nitrates from the water by growing so quickly.
It is not convenient to have them with herbivorous fish as they are fragile. The aquariums where it is healthier are those in which there are ovoviviparous fish such as the guppies and platties.
Requirements to grow it and prices
This plant must be placed in the rear area of the aquarium. As they are large plants, you can place smaller ones that require less light under them. If you see that it can harm the growth of the other plants given their height, it is necessary to prune them more times.
This plant can reproduce by cuttings, cutting the head of the stem about 10 cm from the plant and bury that piece in the substrate. In three or four days it will take root and the new plant will develop. It is convenient to remove the leaves from the part of the stem that is going to be buried to help the growth of the roots and prevent the cutting from rotting.
They can also be propagated by seeds, although to have the seeds, it is necessary to have the plant at least a few centimeters out of the water. The seeds can be taken from the ripe fruit and buried directly in the substrate of the aquarium. The difference between the seeds and the cutting is that the first can only be done in summer and if the plant is outside. The cutting is all year round.
You can find the Ambulia for prices that range between 3 and 10 euros. Once you have one, you can reproduce it by cuttings.
With this information I hope you can enjoy your Ambulia correctly.