BUILB - Aponogeton Barclaya - (Hardy, No CO2 Required, No Fertilizers Required)

Orchid lily in the spotlight

The Orchid lily (Barclaya longifolia) is available in two colours, red or green, but both have a reddish hue on the underside of the leaf.

It’s simple to grow, yet has not appeared in many tanks due to an apparent lack of supply in the UK until recently. The leaves have been known to grow to 81cm/32” in length, with a wavy pattern to the edges, but the green form is not as large as the red.

The plant prefers a soft acidic water, both in full sun or partial shade. The water needs movement, but not a torrent, and it can be found in the slack waters of New Guinea and many parts of South-East Asia. In the aquarium it requires medium to bright lighting, especially the red form, but the green will survive and retain its coloration in either.

Water must be between 22-32°C/72-90°F with pH acid to neutral and must be soft as this plant will not survive in full hardness water. RO units or peat filtration will be needed to enjoy this specimen at full potential.

Barclaya longifolia is a corm, or bulbous-based plant, and this is where it stores food. It likes a good nutritious substrate, ideally clay based, but will survive in gravel or sand as long as it’s surrounded by a bed of clay-based nutrients.

Planting is simple. Put the corm half in the substrate and half out, laying it on its side.

From PracticalFishkeeping.co.u

All plants are grown without Co2 or fertilizers to ensure their hardiness. These hardy, easy-to-care-for plants will make a beautiful addition to any aquascape.

Benefits of Naturally Grown Aquatic Plants:

• No Co2 Required 
• No Fertilizer Required
• Hardy Aquarium Plants
• Easy to grow
• Low maintenance