TROPICA Echinodorus grisebachii ‘Tropica’

Echinodorus grisebachii ‘Tropica’ is a compact and attractive sword plant, ideal for use in the foreground or midground of aquariums. Discovered in the Tropica nursery in Denmark during the 1980s, this unique cultivar has become a favourite among aquascapers for its neat growth habit and rich green foliage. Its small size and distinctive leaf shape make it particularly well-suited for smaller tanks or for creating structured plant groupings in larger layouts.

Physical Characteristics:

• Height: 5–10 cm
• Growth Form: Forms a low, spreading rosette
• Leaf Shape: Narrow, obovate leaves with a slightly bullate (blistered) texture, resembling Samolus valerandi
• Colour: Medium to dark green

Aquarium Requirements:

• Lighting: Moderate to high lighting will encourage compact growth and deeper colouration.
• CO₂: Not essential but beneficial for healthier, faster growth.
• Temperature: 22–28 °C
• pH Range: 6.0–7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
• Substrate: Prefers a nutrient-rich substrate. Root tabs or aquasoil will support optimal development.

Planting Instructions:
Plant directly into the substrate, making sure to bury only the roots, leaving the crown exposed above the substrate to avoid rot. Space each plant to allow room for the rosette to spread naturally.

Care & Maintenance:

• Growth is moderate and manageable.
• Trim outer or older leaves to encourage new, healthy growth from the centre.

• Minimal maintenance makes it ideal for low- to medium-energy setups.
  

Propagation:
Propagates by forming adventitious plantlets or runners from the base. These can be gently separated and replanted once they have developed sufficient roots and a few leaves.

Aquascaping Use:
Excellent for the foreground or midground in nano aquariums and aquascapes with a natural or structured layout. Its rounded, tidy growth adds softness and contrast alongside hardscape or finer-leaved plants.

Echinodorus grisebachii ‘Tropica’ is a charming, compact sword plant that offers all the appeal of the Echinodorus genus in a smaller, more manageable form. With its attractive texture and reliable growth, it's a perfect addition for aquarists seeking refined structure and colour in the lower zones of their planted tanks.

Plants with great success!

Tissue Cultures are very young plants cultivated and delivered directly from the laboratory. The plants are guaranteed to be free from snails, algae and pesticides and, therefore, are harmless for sensitive shrimp and fish.

Success with your aquarium depends largely on the proper plant choice. In a Tissue Culture cup, you are getting many plants that can be divided into small portions and cover a larger area. Plants are compact from the start, so you will experience dense and beautiful growth if you give them the right fertiliser and CO2!

• Carefully take the plant out of the cup and rinse off the growing media.
• To prevent mildew and algae, rinse with chlorine-free water.
  
• Split the plant into 6-8 portions using your fingers or scissors (for small foreground plants).
  
• Plant portions into the substrate using tweezers.
  

Origin
Country or continent where a plant is the most common. Cultivars arise or are bred in cultivation.

Growth Rate
Growth rate of the plant compared to other aquatic plants.

Height
Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.

Light Demand
The average or medium light demand of an aquarium plant is 0.5 W/L.

CO2 Demand
A medium need in CO2 is 6-14 mg/L. A high demand in CO2 is approx. 15-25 mg/L.