Amazon Sword: How to Plant It in an Aquarium and Care for It

Free the roots, out of the tank

Co-Op frees the roots from the basket and rock wool, removes “all the small, yellow fertilizer balls” and washes off debris; its steps do not trim them. Tropica’s planting guide, for rosette plants (Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne): “If necessary, cut off the overgrown roots so that you can remove the pot and mineral wool. Trim the roots at approx. 4 cm. Divide into single rosettes and remove the oldest/outermost leaves. Plant alone or in a group.” (4 cm is about 1.5 in, our conversion.) Tropica’s page is its own handling guide for its potted plants and does not say whether the trim applies to other growers’ plants; Co-Op’s and Buce’s steps do not trim, so follow the steps that came with your plant. Tropica’s 1-2-Grow! tissue-culture cups include two small swords, not ‘Bleherae’; the cup steps on that page do not name swords, so our reading is that the crown rule below still applies to them.

Unplug, then plant with the crown clear

Fluval, an aquarium equipment maker, in its AquaClear filter manual: “Always unplug or disconnect all appliances in the aquarium from electricity supply before placing hands in water, before putting on or taking off parts and while the equipment is being installed, maintained or handled.” Co-Op: “Use planting tweezers or your fingers to push the roots of the sword deeply into the substrate until they are completely buried. Pull out the plant slightly so that the crown (i.e., the base of the plant where all the leaves come out) is not covered with substrate.” Buce Plant: “Plant the roots deeply into your aquarium soil, keeping the central crown resting just above the substrate line to prevent rot.” If it “keeps popping out of the ground”, Co-Op says to “try inserting the plant at an angle or wrap a plant weight at the bottom of the plant to keep it anchored.” Plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.

Add root tabs only as needed, by the label

Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Co-Op: “Make sure to add lots of root tabs if you’re using inert substrate or if your nutrient-rich substrate is depleted.” Co-Op’s line gives no number. Use the count and interval on your tab’s own label (our advice). Buce Plant: “All Echinodorus are heavy root feeders that rely on rich substrate nutrition; placing root tabs near the base supports steady, healthy leaf development.” To place a tab, our roundup quotes NilocG, the maker of the pick above: “Push the tablet fully beneath the substrate and position it near the plant’s root zone.” Aqueon, an aquarium equipment maker, warns: “Do not use plant tabs or fertilizer sticks intended for houseplants as they may not have the correct balance of nutrients for aquatic plants.” Plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.

Trim dying leaves if you choose to

Buce Plant says swords “are often grown emersed and shed their old emersed leaves when submerged”, and to keep water parameters stable and supply root tabs near the base. Co-Op says to “leave the roots planted in the ground”. Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Co-Op: “If the sword plant has dying or melting leaves, cut them off at the base of the leaf.” Co-Op also says of the leaves that change after purchase: “it’s your choice cut off the fading, older leaves or leave them.” For size control (“when it grows too large”), Buce Plant prunes older or overgrown outer leaves “individually near the root crown” and warns: “Avoid cutting across leaf blades, as damaged leaf tips will turn brown rather than regrowing.” The Shrimp Farm, a shrimp and aquarium retailer: “avoid over-trimming in a single session as it can temporarily shock the plant. Instead, prefer to remove leaves gradually to reduce stress.” Plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.

Check yellow outer leaves for nutrients

Co-Op: “Sword plants absorb lots of nutrients from the ground, so it may be a nutrient deficiency. If the larger, outer leaves are yellowing and dying after a couple of months, please add more root tabs.” Unplug every appliance before adding tabs, and plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out. The Shrimp Farm says liquid fertilizers “can also help prevent iron deficiencies that can lead to yellowing leaves.” Feed only if needed, by the label; our fertilizing schedule guide compares makers’ schedules. If fish look unwell after a dosing change, test the water and contact an aquatic veterinarian.

Replant runner plantlets if you want more plants

Unplug every appliance in the tank first. Co-Op: “Sword plants reproduce by sending out a horizontal runner with a little plantlet at the end. The plantlet will sprout its own leaves and roots that grow into the ground. You can cut off the plantlet and re-plant it in a different location.” Buce Plant differs: “Sword plants propagate through side shoots off of their leaves, which can be trimmed and replanted into the substrate.” Plug every appliance you unplugged back in once your hands are out.