Arrowleaf Waterlily

Arrowleaf Waterlily is a beautiful plant rarely seen among aquarists. It forms a long creeping rhizome from which delicate light-green, large, arrow-shaped leaves with strongly ruffled edges arise, reaching up to 30–35 cm in height; the veins form a very beautiful pattern. The plant is placed in the midground and center of the aquarium. It is suitable for medium and large aquariums. The plant is comparatively rare due to its slow growth, some specifics of care, and difficulties in propagation. It grows steadily throughout the year.

The arrowleaf waterlily should be kept only in a tropical aquarium with a water temperature not lower than 24 °C. In colder water its growth deteriorates significantly. Water hardness of 6–12° with a reaction close to neutral (pH 6.5–7.5) suits the plant best. Strong water currents should not be created in the aquarium. Special attention must be paid to maintaining water cleanliness. Deposition of organic and mineral particulates on the leaves greatly worsens the plant's condition and causes the death of its delicate leaves. Water changes should ideally be performed 3–4 times a month.

Lighting should be as bright as possible. Natural daylight entering the room through a window is usually not enough for the plant. Diffuse sunlight is very beneficial. Artificial supplementary lighting is mandatory. The power of fluorescent lamps should be at least 0.4 per 1 L of aquarium volume. Additional illumination with incandescent lamps is very useful to increase the share of red-orange rays in the spectrum. The photoperiod should be 12–14 hours.

Substrate for the arrowleaf waterlily must be nutrient-rich. When planting it into new substrate, clay and charcoal should definitely be added. Over time the silt accumulated in the substrate will be sufficient to feed the plant. If silt accumulates excessively, it is necessary to periodically vacuum out the dirt using a siphon. The type of substrate is not of great importance; nevertheless, a mixture of coarse sand and gravel is preferred. Since the plant develops a strong root system, it requires a substrate layer at least 7 cm thick.

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