Growing Utricularia Graminifolia (Utricularia Graminifolia) In The Aquarium

Natural habitats this species are shady areas of wetlands, swamps, peatlands, coasts of streams in south-eastern Asia (Vietnam, India, Burma, Thailand, Laos, China).

This is a semi-aquatic plant. It has rhizome with lot of filamentous runners. Green, grassy leaves develop in nodes on the runners. These leaves are 4-6 cm long and about 6 mm wide. Each leaf has 3 veins. There is also laterally flattened air bubbles – the bladders on the runners. These bladders are 0.5-2 cm long and they are apparatus which grabs small invertebrate animals in the trap. Utricularia graminifolia is a carnivorous species. The bladders open inwards when appear a potential prey. Then plant sucks this prey with water and the bladder is closed. The plant secretes digestive enzymes.

This species should be planted in the foreground of the aquarium. Systematic cutting of the plant causes dense its leaves. We can arrange lawns with this species. Then we plant seedlings in the substrate in a checkerboard pattern at distance of 5 centimeters.

This is delicate plant and it is sensitive to water conditions. It is difficult species. The plant difficult takes root and it difficult acclimates. Optimal conditions are scattered lighting, slightly acidic and soft water with water temperature above 21°C, strong water flow, fertile substrate with iron, phosphorus, nitrogen and manganese. Carbon dioxide isn't necessary but it is recommended. We should avoid fish which dig in substrate.

This is spermatophyte species but it develops violet flowers only above the water surface. In aquarium we reproduce it vegetatively - by dividing the rhizome.