Ludwigia arcuata
Ludwigia arcuata (Narrow Leaf Ludwigia)
A beautiful, farily undemanding plant that can be grown in a wide range of water conditions, Ludwigia arcuata is a fairly low growing bushy plant with long thing leaves that take on beautiful shades of red with high lighting. It is an eye-catching midground or background plant in even small aquariums. L. arcuata does not require CO2 though it benefits from good lighting. CO2 supplementation can bring out more intense coloration and encourage denser and bushier growth.
QUICK NOTES:
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Stem
Size: Maximum height of 50cm, stem width of 3 - 5cm
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Position and Usage: Midground to background
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Lighting: 3/5 - 5/5
Water Conditions: Temperature of 20 - 28°C, pH of 5.5 - 8, soft to medium water. Tolerant of a wide variety of parameters.
CO2: Not required but certainly beneficial
Propagation: Cuttings
Special requirements: Fairly easy plant to grow but high lighting and nutrient supplementation encourages redder leaf colouration. Limiting nitrates can result in an almost crimson, deep red coloration.
Description
Ludwigia arcuata, otherwise known as "needle leaf Ludwigia", is a practical favorite among aquarists for it's ease of cultivation and beautiful, unique look. Although delicate in appearance, this plant is quite a hardy species that tolerate a very wide range of water parameters and growth conditions. With proper illumination, the leaves will adopt various red hues, making L. arcuata an especially lovely accent when situated among its more traditionally colored peers.
Carbon dioxide supplementation is not required to cultivate this species but will encourage robust, bushy growth that can then be cut at the nodes and re-planted in the substrate. Frequent pruning with or without CO2 will promote branching and a shorter, denser growth habit, making L. arcuata well-suited to the midground or background in even very small aquariums. Although you can place low-growing foreground plants in front of it, this plant’s upper regions are particularly kinetic and beautiful and may sway in the currents, blending gracefully into your tank’s environment.
This plant will take on extremely intense - almost crimson red coloration if nitrates levels are low and lighting is good.
Ludwigia arcuata can also be grown either fully or partially emersed in vivariums, paludariums, Wabi Kusa or humid terrarium environments.
