Description
Plant Profile
Echinodorus ‘Red Rubin’, commonly known as the Red Rubin Sword, is a vibrant hybrid cultivar celebrated for its broad, wavy-edged foliage that shifts through striking shades of ruby red, deep purple, bronze, and dark green. Thanks to its hardy, undemanding nature and wide parameter tolerance, it serves as an excellent plant for beginners without requiring specialized high-tech equipment. Each oversized pot contains 2 to 4+ mature Echinodorus Red Rubin plants with well-developed growth, making it a great choice for large aquariums and bigger aquascaping projects.
Key Features & Notes
Broad, slightly wavy leaf blades display a rich color range from ruby red and gold to deep burgundy and olive green.
An adaptable and low-maintenance species that thrives under a wide variety of lighting and water conditions.
Care & Planting Instructions
Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
Plant the roots deeply into your aquarium soil, keeping the crown of the plant resting just above the substrate line to prevent rot.
All Echinodorus are heavy root feeders that rely on rich substrate nutrition; placing root tabs near the base supports steady, healthy leaf development.
Provide moderate lighting; while CO2 injection is not strictly required, supplying regular liquid iron supplementation and good lighting will enhance its deepest ruby-red and purple colors.
Avoid using copper-based medications in tanks containing Echinodorus species, as sword plants are particularly sensitive to copper.
Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
Final size and coloration depend entirely on your specific aquarium conditions; please note that photos are a representation, and individual plants may vary.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Echinodorus ‘Red Rubin’
Common Name(s)
Red Rubin Sword, Red Rubin Sword Mother Pot
Family
Alismataceae
Plant Type / Taxonomy
Rosette plant / Cultivar
Care Difficulty
Easy
Light Requirement
Moderate
CO2 Requirement
Not required (Optional)
Placement / Usage
Background (or Midground)
Height / Size
10–24+ inches
Growth Rate
Fast
Water Parameters
pH 5.5–8.0
Propagation Method
Separate new plantlets from the root crown or adventitious shoots
Origin
Cultivated cultivar (Species origin: South America)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I prune an Echinodorus when it grows too large?
Prune older or overgrown outer leaves individually near the root crown using sharp aquascaping scissors. Avoid cutting across leaf blades, as damaged leaf tips will turn brown rather than regrowing.
2. Can this background plant grow in low-tech aquariums without CO2?
Yes, this species thrives in low-tech aquariums without pressurized CO2, provided it receives adequate root supplementation and consistent lighting.
3. Why are the leaves on my new Echinodorus melting or turning yellow?
Sword plants are often grown emersed and shed their old emersed leaves when submerged to adapt to underwater growth. Keep water parameters stable and supply root tabs near the base to support new leaves.
