Oriental sword is an easy sword prized for its pastel pink new leaves. It works as a specimen plant in the midground.
Did you know
Only the newest leaves of Oriental sword are pink. The plant keeps renewing its color from the center while older leaves turn green, so a healthy specimen always has a rosy crown.
Caring for Oriental sword
Plant Oriental sword in a rich substrate with root tabs, and keep the crown just above the surface. Leave it undisturbed so it can build a root system. It also feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer helps.
Give it strong light, since the pink washes out under low light. CO2 is not required but improves growth and color intensity. Keep it at 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
It is a slow grower. Remove faded outer leaves so the fresh pink growth stays visible. Propagate it from side shoots, plantlets or a division of the rhizome.
Good to know
Oriental sword arose as a spontaneous mutation of Echinodorus 'Rose', a hybrid of Echinodorus horemanii 'Red' and Echinodorus horizontalis. As a cultivar, it carries no wild binomial. Its youngest leaves are a soft, semi-transparent pink that deepens to red with green veins. They then harden to green with wavy margins.
In the wild
Oriental sword is a cultivated hybrid with no wild population. Its parent, Echinodorus 'Rose', was first raised by Hans Barth in Germany. Oriental itself grows only as a submersedrosette.
Common questions
Does Oriental sword need to be planted in the substrate?
Yes. Bury the roots and leave the crown, where the leaves join, just above the substrate.
Does Oriental sword need CO2?
No, but it helps. Oriental sword can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Oriental sword need?
Oriental sword needs high light from a strong planted-tank LED.
Does Oriental sword need root tabs?
They help. Oriental sword takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.
How do you propagate Oriental sword?
Oriental sword propagates by side shoots, plantlets and rhizome division. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own. Small plantlets form on the plant and can be detached once they have a few roots.
How tall does Oriental sword grow?
Oriental sword grows to about 11.8 in (30 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.
Low lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)