Nymphaea stellata – a star-shaped water lily with beautiful flowers

Arrowhead Hard-leaved

The most popular type with narrow leaves, reaching a length of up to 15 cm. The coloration varies slightly between subspecies depending on water parameters and lighting: from different shades of green to brown. It can bloom if it does not grow very deep. After transplanting, it usually sheds its leaves, then adapts and grows. It likes shallow and nutritious soil (pebbles, sand) and bright lighting. The basal leaves are gathered in rosettes, ribbon-like, sessile on the stem, slightly curved and pointed at the tips, with clearly visible veins in the middle. The plant has a tuberous root system with short white roots, intertwined in knots, which is quite fragile. Small white flowers are located on the flower arrows.

Dwarf (S. Spec)

Subulate or Subulata (S. Subulata)

Main characteristics

Types

Main types of aquarium arrowhead

All known species have slight differences in size and appearance, but their growing conditions are the same:

It is the most powerful subspecies: spreading, with a large root system, undemanding to temperature. It prefers grainy soil with silt. It does not like the proximity of other plants, to the point of losing its decorative appearance and stopping development. The leaves have a broad base and a pointed shape, dense and fleshy plates. It can reach 20 cm.

Water lilies are often used as decorations for aquariums. These plants are not that difficult to grow, so even a beginner can handle this task if they follow simple conditions. In an aquarium, the plant can grow from 20 to 70 cm in height. And the total diameter, taking into account the leaves floating on the surface of the water, reaches 20-70 cm.

• Due to its relatively large size, the water lily is not suitable for small aquariums. In large tanks, the best solution is to place the plant in the middle or background of the composition.

• It is advisable to use a container with a volume of 200 liters or more. When setting up an aquarium, the lights should be placed higher so that the star lotus does not get burned. This is especially important if incandescent lamps are used.

Water parameters for ideal maintenance

Nymphaea stellata can exist in a wide range of temperatures and prefers softened water with a pH close to neutral. In an aquarium containing star lotus, the following parameters must be maintained:

• acid-alkaline balance — 5-7.

During the winter, it is recommended to maintain the water temperature at 20-22 degrees Celsius. For the star nymphaea to thrive, it is not necessary to change the water, but it is better not to refuse filtration.

Lighting requirements

Bright lighting is required for good growth of the star lotus. It is advisable to use fluorescent lamps with a power of 0.8 W/l. If the plant receives a lot of light, it forms small leaves with short petioles that begin to cover the ground. As a result, the lotus foliage forms a bush that spreads across the bottom of the aquarium.

If Nymphaea nouchali experiences an acute lack of light, it becomes dull and takes on a sickly appearance.

If the intensity of the lighting is reduced only slightly, you can get the familiar look of the stellate water lily, which is observed in ponds and natural reservoirs.

The green leaves of the plant become larger, and their petioles elongate. As a result, the leaf plates practically lie on the surface of the water.

Requirements for soil and nutrient substrate

Nymphaea stellata has a well-developed root system, but the roots of the plant are very delicate. For this reason, it is necessary to use fine-grained soil. For example, sand or fine gravel. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the roots.

As aquarists note, star lotus thrives best in clay soils.

In addition to clay, the presence of peat and charcoal in the nutrient substrate is welcome. It is best to plant the plant in silted soil, which forms in old aquariums with an established ecosystem.

The following products from well-known manufacturers are suitable as nutrient substrates for star water lilies:

• Tropica Substrate is a nutrient-rich substrate based on peat and clay, ideal for growing marsh plants. It is a source of iron, which is necessary to maintain the bright green color of the leaves.

• Tetra ActiveSubstrate is a natural, lightweight clay-based soil. It contains a large amount of iron. Suitable for planting plants with fragile root systems.

• Sera Floredepot is a nutrient-rich substrate made from peat. It is a good source of organic compounds necessary for the proper growth of Nymphaea stellata.

Fertilizer requirements

Star lotus needs a large amount of organic matter, which it can obtain from the silt layer. Additionally, liquid fertilizers with macro- and microelements will need to be added to the water. The use of solid fertilizers is not recommended due to the delicate root system, which is easily damaged.

For better growth and to maintain the decorative appearance of the plant, the following preparations can be used:

• Aquayer MICRO+ is a liquid fertilizer for daily use. It promotes the growth of aquarium flora and is a source of essential micronutrients.

• Aquayer MACRO+ is a liquid fertilizer containing nitrates and phosphates. It is used in combination with the first product to feed plants that need nitrogen compounds and organic matter in general.

• Aquabalance Macro Balance is a solution with a high content of phosphorus and nitrogen-containing compounds. It is used when changing the water. It can be used if there are plants in the same aquarium as the water lily for which it is important to replace some of the old liquid with fresh liquid.

• Aquabalance Microbalance+K is a liquid fertilizer recommended for use together with Macrobalance. It is a source of iron and potassium and should be applied twice a week.

• Tetra PlantaPro Micro is a liquid fertilizer from a well-known manufacturer. It provides plants with all the necessary micronutrients for healthy growth and bright color. It is recommended to add it to the aquarium every week.

• Tetra PlantaPro Macro is a liquid fertilizer for the effective growth of aquarium plants. It serves as a source of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are necessary for the proper development of water lilies.

Propagation

You can get a new plant from seeds or by vegetative means. In the latter case, the daughter water lily is separated from the parent base and planted in silted soil. The young plant will get its first nutrients from it. It would be useful to add fertilizer to stimulate shoot growth.

Variations and forms of the plant

There are many varieties of nymphaea in nature. We will take a closer look at some of them.

• Tiger water lily, it is also known as the tiger lotus. This plant originates from Africa, from where the water lily spread throughout the world. There are red and green tiger nymphaeas, bred through selection. The plant is suitable even for novice aquarists. It is quite unpretentious, blooms regularly, and has a distinctive feature in the form of spotted leaves. It is advisable to grow tiger water lilies in a large aquarium, as they take up a lot of space. The plant propagates by means of shoots.

• Nymphaea micrantha. Another species of water lily with spotted leaves. It is noteworthy that the rich red speckles are only observed on the underwater leaf plates. The leaves above the water are completely green. After the appearance of the above-water leaves, a flower stalk forms, on which a beautiful flower appears. The plant reaches a height of 30 cm.

• Nymphaea santaremensis, also known as dwarf water lily. This species originates from South America, where it is most commonly found in the Amazon basin. It also grows in swamps and small lakes. Depending on the conditions, it can be red, green, or brown in color. The size of the leaf plate does not exceed 5-8 cm, which is why the plant is called dwarf. The flowering of the Santa Ram water lily can only be observed at night. To obtain a flower stalk, it is necessary to lower the water level in the aquarium so that floating leaves appear. Only after this does the plant release arrows for future flowers.

Nymphaea stellata is a truly special water lily that can become the main decoration of any pond. Its star-shaped flowers, playing with shades of red and pink, create a unique picture on the water that pleases the eye all summer long.

Caring for this beauty is not as difficult as it may seem. The main thing is to provide it with enough sun and space and not let the water freeze in winter. Then, year after year, it will reward you with lush and long flowering.

If you dream of enlivening your pond by adding bright colors and elegant shapes, stellata is an excellent choice. This plant does not just fill the space, it creates an atmosphere of peace and natural harmony, turning an ordinary pond into a little piece of magic.