Growing Dwarf Sagittaria (Sagittaria Subulata) In The Aquarium

Dwarf Sagittaria, Arrowhead, Subulate Water Plant, Hudson Bay Arrowhead, Awl-leaf Arrowhead, Arrowhead Plant, Narrow Leaf Sagittaria, Hydrocleys nymphoides

The dwarf sagittarius is an aquatic plant that naturally inhabits shallow, fresh and brackish riverbanks, swamps, and river mouths in Colombia, Venezuela, and the USA. It mainly lives underwater, where it releases terrestrial leaves and a flower stem.

The plant produces both underwater and terrestrial (floating) leaves, which are significantly different from each other. Pale green, ribbon-like, narrow underwater leaves grow in rosettes from the root base. These leaves can reach lengths of 20-50 cm and widths of 4-7 cm. The oval leaf blade of terrestrial leaves is 0.5-2.5 cm wide and 2-6 cm long. The plant produces numerous runners, from which subsequent offspring plants sprout. The flower stem can reach 1 meter in length. Small, white flowers form just above the water surface. In aquaristics, there are numerous varieties of this plant, which differ mainly in leaf length. The smallest variety is Sagittaria subulata var. pusilla, and the largest is Sagittaria subulata var. gracillima.

The species looks best in the middle and foreground of the aquarium, arranged in so-called lawn. For this purpose, we arrange the plant cuttings in a checkerboard pattern, 10 cm apart, and allow them to produce runners, which will quickly thicken the plant.

The plant is quite easy to grow and spreads quickly, so it is recommended for beginner aquarists. Additional fertilization with carbon dioxide is beneficial for its growth. The lawn needs to be systematically trimmed and thinned. Overly dense plants start to grow upwards in search of light, and their leaves begin to yellow. Leaf yellowing can also be caused by an iron deficiency in the water. Too weak lighting results in the plant stretching upwards. The dwarf sagittarius does well in alkaline water.

It is a seed plant that develops a flower stem in shallow aquariums and under optimal conditions. However, in aquarium conditions, it reproduces vegetatively - through runners.