If you are looking for an accent plant that can become the star of your underwater garden, consider Echinodorus rubinus. This hybrid is striking with its rich red-burgundy color, which makes it stand out against any green background.
Its leaves change color depending on the conditions in the aquarium. With good lighting, they become truly ruby red, almost purple. At the same time, the plant is quite hardy and is suitable even for aquarists without much experience.
Echinodorus rubinus is not just a bush, but a living picture in its own right. It creates a stunning color contrast and adds depth and drama to the aquarium. Let's figure out how to grow this beauty at home.
Distribution
Echinodorus rubinus is an artificially created hybrid. It is the result of crossbreeding Echinodorus osiris and Echinodorus horemanii. This species was grown in Hans Bart's world-famous aquarium plant nursery in Dessau, Germany.
Growing and care
The impressive appearance of Echinodorus rubinus is due to its bright red-brown leaves with yellow-green veins. In addition, the leaves are slightly transparent, which makes their color even more vivid. In short, the plant fully deserves to be called ruby.
However, in its above-water form, the plant is almost completely green, and its beautiful ruby color usually develops only under good aquarium conditions, as the plant needs more light and CO2 to develop its signature color.
Soil and substrate requirements
Fine or medium gravel up to 3-4 millimeters in size is suitable as a substrate.
It should be noted that the plant needs at least 20 centimeters of soil.
Therefore, an effective solution would be to plant the plant in a separate pot with soil and then place it in the aquarium.
Lighting requirements
The more light the plant receives, the richer its coloration will be and the more beautiful and impressive it will look. When there is little light, only young leaves develop coloration, but when there is plenty of light, even old leaves take on a bright red color.
Fertilizer requirements
The plant can survive without regular feeding. However, if the aquarium is not densely populated with fish, the carbon dioxide released by the fish when they breathe is insufficient for optimal growth of aquatic plants. Therefore, for better and faster growth of Echinodorus, fertilizers must be used in the aquarium.
If the leaves become discolored, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers with a high iron (Fe) content. If the leaf plates are covered with calcium, the supply of carbon dioxide (CO2) should be increased to 3-5 mg/l.
Echinodorus rubinus is a bright and expressive aquatic flower that attracts attention with the rich burgundy-red hue of its leaves. It is not a natural species, but a hybrid bred artificially, which makes it particularly interesting for aquarium design enthusiasts. With good lighting and nutritious soil, the plant reveals itself in all its glory, adding depth and drama to the aquarium. Caring for it is not difficult — it is suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists. It is one of those plants that can easily turn an ordinary aquarium into a real underwater work of art.
Water parameters for ideal conditions
The plant thrives at a pH of 5.8 to 7.5, in soft to moderately hard water. The water temperature should be between 22-28°C, but it can tolerate slight deviations.
Reproduction
Reproduction is carried out in two ways:
By dividing the rhizome
To do this, dig up the root and cut it into several pieces with a knife so that each piece has at least three leaves. After that, the root pieces are replanted. If necessary, even roots without leaves can be used as planting material. To do this, leave the leafless parts of the root in the aquarium and over time, roots and leaves will form on it, after which it must be planted in the ground.
Daughter plants
This method does not require any additional actions, but to speed up the process of plant formation on the arrow, it is recommended to bend it to the ground. When the daughter plant is fully formed and takes root, it can be cut off and used as planting material as a separate plant.
Variations of this plant, or other forms
This plant is not found in the wild, as it was grown in artificial conditions. But if we consider Echinodorus osiris and Echinodorus Goreman to be the ancestors of the modern Rubin, then Echinodorus “Gold Bart” (Echinodorus Gold Bart) should be considered an intermediate form of these plants.
Echinodorus osiris
Echinodorus Goreman
This is a large plant, reaching up to 70 centimeters in height, with long, linear-lanceolate leaves up to 4 centimeters wide. Its leaves have a beautiful golden color, which is where it gets its name.
Other varieties of the plant include Echinodorus rubinus, whose leaves are red and grow no more than 12 centimeters, as well as Echinodorus osiris rubinus, a plant that resembles Osiris in appearance but has broader leaves and a bright red color.
Echinodorus rubinus can rightly be considered one of the gems of the home aquarium. Its rich wine color and stately bush shape create a stunning accent that is hard to miss. This plant proves that the underwater world can be no less vibrant and picturesque than any garden on land.
Fortunately, caring for it is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. With proper lighting and nutritious soil, it will delight you with its healthy appearance for a long time. It is an excellent choice for both experienced aquarists and those who want to add something truly spectacular to their first aquarium.
If you are looking for a plant that can become the centerpiece of your entire underwater composition, feel free to consider Echinodorus rubinus. It will bring depth, color, and that special something to your aquarium that makes this hobby so exciting.
