Hornwort Semi-submerged

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Video: Hornwort Semi-submerged

Video: Hornwort Semi-submerged
Video: Underwater Tree - Hornwort & Manzanita - Instructions 2024, May
Hornwort Semi-submerged
Hornwort Semi-submerged
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Hornwort semi-submerged (lat. Ceratophyllum submersum) - an aquatic plant; a representative of the genus Hornwort of the Hornwort family. The plant is also called underwater hornwort and light green hornwort. The plant became known back in 1763, it was described by Karl Linnaeus. In nature, this species of hornwort lives in European countries, Kazakhstan, Africa. Typical habitats are lakes, rivers, ponds, ditches, including those with salt water.

Characteristics of culture

The semi-submerged hornwort is represented by perennial plants submerged in water. This is the reason for the name of the plant. He is shade-loving and sensitive to light, for this reason he prefers to be at a depth of 9 m. It grows rapidly and actively under the condition of a favorable climate and conditions. The plant has no root, it is kept in water due to rhizoid branches. They penetrate deeply into the silt and serve as a kind of anchor.

The stem of the semi-submerged hornwort is very hard, up to 100 cm long, rises above the water column. The foliage is filiform, soft, segmented, sessile, whorled, bright green, covered with hairs. A distinctive feature of foliage is the presence of lime and the presence of a cuticle (a film that repels water and fatty gases). The flowers are small, green, up to 2 mm in length, without petals. Fruits are represented by nuts with thorn-like outgrowths bearing a seed with a large embryo.

It should be noted that in some countries the semi-submerged hornwort is on the verge of extinction due to the drying up of water bodies, however, international protection authorities do not believe that the plant needs environmental protection measures. Due to its attractive appearance and ease of maintenance, it is actively used by aquarists.

Features of reproduction and maintenance

As already clear from the above, the semi-submerged hornwort cannot be called a whimsical culture. It gets along without any problems in cold water aquariums, the main thing is that there is enough space for its reproduction, therefore it is better to plant it in large aquariums. Preferred water is alkaline, acidity from 7, 0 to 7, 5 pH. The optimum temperature is from 17 to 30 degrees Celsius. Temperatures below 17C threaten with slow growth and development.

It is better to keep it in a place where there is no bright light, otherwise the growth rate will increase significantly. It is great if the daylight hours will vary at the level of 12 hours. If you constantly keep the plant in the shade, then it will sink to the very bottom, and rotting of the stems is also possible. Such plants are suitable in the future, they do not need to be thrown away, it is enough to cut off the decayed part.

Fertilizers for semi-submerged hornwort are not required, since they independently absorb components important for development from the water, we are talking about ammonia, nitrites and phosphates. It is very easy to propagate a plant. The vegetative method is usually used. Parts of the plants are lowered into water, where they quickly grow new shoots. If necessary, you can fix the parts with aquarium pebbles or shells.

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