Say hello to Ludwigia sedioides

 Ludwigia sedioides looks fantastic from above. #topdowntuesday?

Not a lot of stem plants can top the beauty of Ludwigia Sedioides. Otherwise known as the Mosaic Plant, it is generally considered a stem plant, but it looks like it belongs to a family of Lotus or Nymphoides. Its diamond-shaped leaves need to reach the water's surface, where it clusters up, forming a rosette. So, the stem is bear with all its leaves found on the surface in clump a. From afar, clusters of this plant would look like Lotus leaves floating on the surface. 

 Leaf colour could take many hues. From olive green to bright yellow-green to pinkish, reddish hues, this plant will sometimes display different colours in one cluster. It usually has reddish leaves on the outer rim and more glowing green leaves in the middle of its rosette. 

This South American species will show vibrant colours and tightly formed rosettes if left in full sun. This plant has small yellow flowers. It is supposed to bloom at the start of the winter season, which in its native region of Venezuela and Brazil starts in June. It will bloom readily, though, once its requirements are met in your area. 

 

Lighting

Ludwigia Sedioides love bright light. In the wild, it is found in swampy or pond-like environments where it is exposed to full sun all day. It can be mixed with other light-loving plants. Filtration and proper maintenance are crucial since this species can be prone to hair algae, especially if the dead leaves are not removed from the rosette. The 6500k-7200k colour temperature should work fine, but full spectrum lighting is recommended for this plant to show its brighter colours. 

 

CO2

 Since its leaves reach the surface, it will not require CO2 supplementation. This plant can take the CO2 it needs from the atmosphere like a terrestrial plant. 

 

Water Parameters

Keep this plant in soft, slightly acidic to neutral pH water. This plant will definitely appreciate a rich substrate, although it will also benefit from regular water column dosing. 

This plant will love a pond-like environment where water is more stagnant. Its delicate leaves can quickly come off should it be placed in a solid current/water flow. Its stems are also very brittle and can easily be broken. Unlike many pond plants, Ludwigia Sedioides is sensitive to hi temperatures. Do not place this plant in waters above 30 degrees Celsius; otherwise, it will start to melt and lose its leaves.  

 

Planting and Position in the tank. 

Ludwigia Sedioides can be placed as an accent plant to mimic underwater environments where Lotus and other pond plants can grow. Place it where its stems can shoot up and reach the water's surface. This plant would best be suited in larger tanks with plenty of room to grow. A strong current is a big no, but a gentle, steady flow can be tolerated. This plant can be placed midground along with other midground aquatic plants. 

 

Trimming and Maintenance

Do not trim this plant like any other stem plant. Dead or dying leaves can be removed. Should the stem grow too long that it looks out of place in the tank, it can be cut to be replanted. The stomp can be left alone, and it will develop a new shoot and a new rosette. This is the quickest way to propagate Ludwigia Sedioides.