Encyclopedia - Plants for ponds
Wavy Aponogeton
Aponogeton stachysporus
Habitat - ponds, ditches, swamps. The rhizome is tuberous in shape; translucent leaves with a patterned design and a narrowed tip reach 25 cm in length and 4 cm in width. Under favorable conditions a clump can reach 70 cm in height.
Wavy Aponogeton is a common, undemanding plant among aquarists, possessing excellent decorative qualities. The leaves are light green with an attractive checkered pattern. Wavy Aponogeton should be placed in the background of the aquarium. In small containers, even under the most favorable conditions, the plant may remain small but retains its character and attractiveness. It usually grows evenly throughout the year but looks best in late summer and autumn. In natural conditions it flowers in late summer; in aquaria it flowers rarely.
Wavy Aponogeton requires bright lighting. For artificial illumination, fluorescent lamps of type LB and incandescent bulbs can be used. The power of the lighting can be calculated using the following proportion: 0.4–0.5 W per 1 L of volume for fluorescent lamps and 1.2–1.5 W for incandescent bulbs. The plant tolerates prolonged shading poorly. Natural light is very beneficial for it.
Water temperature can vary between 22–28 °C. In colder water growth slows and the plant may shed leaves. The tuber remains in the substrate, and when favorable conditions return it quickly produces new leaves. The plant prefers soft water with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Optimal conditions: hardness less than 4°, pH below 7, although it can grow in harder water with a slightly alkaline reaction. At hardness above 8° Aponogeton grows relatively slowly and does not reach large sizes.
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