The genus Lagnandra is very closely related to the Cryptocorynes and colonises similar habitats. Lagenandra meeboldii is a very varied species and the variety ‚Red‘ is a wonderfully coloured plant for the midground. Until now most species in the genus Lagenandra were unsuitable for aquariums, however this new plant from India does impressively well in an underwater landscape. Here they also form a strong rhizome like the Anubias, but they should be planted into the substrate. With its striking colour this Indian beauty makes a great feature in a plant aquarium.

The new fern Crepidomanes cf. malabaricum is a real rarity. It belongs to the bristle fern family and is more reminiscent of a moss than a fern. In its natural habitat it grows terrestrially on large rocks and is only covered by water in the rainy season. There is only a small amount of cultivation experience, however it also grows when permanently underwater. Here its growth is classed as extremely slow. Crepidomanes is an especially good feature for delicate aquascaping layouts. The fragile rhizomes should ideally be attached to stones or roots.

Like the Asplenium fern, the classification for this variety is not yet definitive, hence the “cf.” in its name. This new plant does have some very interesting growth habits: under strong light it usually creeps across the substrate and even across other plants. The tiny, clover-shaped leaves are certainly distinctive. It is not demanding in terms of water conditions, but strong light encourages this carpet-like growth. We advise occasionally removing any overgrowth with scissors or a knife.

Baby tears

formerly Micranthemum glomeratus

Home for this delicate aquarium plant is the east coast of North America. This variety of Hemianthus grows on rocky or muddy substrate at the mouths of rivers. Its loose, upright growth and brilliant, light green colour are fresh and spring-like. A pair of sharp scissors is all you need for pruning purposes. After pruning, the plants produce a number of new side shoots and the entire cluster will appear denser and more compact. Create rich contrasts by combining light green Hemianthus with red-leaved varieties, such as Alternanthera.

Needle rush
The needle rush Eleocharis acicularis is found all over the world. It is a particularly lithe, grass-like plant for the foreground. It prefers cooler water, but does grow perfectly well at higher temperatures. Side runners shoot out over time to produce a thick carpet of plants. When bedding in plants cultivated in the emersed state, we recommend pruning hard and dividing any dense plant cushions. Plant the cut rootstock at 5 cm intervals. The first submerged blades will appear after just a few days.

Dwarf soft rush

Stunning, grass-like foreground plant. Takashi Amano’s fantastic underwater landscapes have really pushed this plant into the limelight. In the wild it only grows submerged in slow-moving, shaded water. This plant is known for being very demanding. And yet it is possible to cultivate when you take care of the important factors such as adequate light, CO2 supplementation, and nutrient-rich substrate. A large group turns any aquarium into a fascinating spectacle. With very strong lighting these plants display intense, red colouring.

Micranthemum spec. 'Monte Carlo' is a new, promising foreground plant. The name of this variety comes from the Argentinian city of Monte Carlo in the province of Misiones. In contrast with M. umbrosum, this plant does not grow upright, but creeps along the bottom as a cushion. This makes this new variety a very good alternative to Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba', with much better growth habits. This new pearl grass is ideally suited for aquascaping and perfect for Nano Cubes.

The variety 'Red Ruby' is a very pretty new cultivar which is a type of Alternanthera reineckii. The most noticeable feature is the ruby red venation on the leaves, which stands out clearly from the red background colour. The growth rate is a little slower than for A. reineckii 'Red' and 'Bronze'. This means with good lighting you can also cultivate this red beauty in a 30 l cube. In large aquaria you should plant around 15 - 20 stems to achieve an impressive group of plants, which harmonises best with "green" neighbours.

Small Ambulia
A stem plant that is widespread across Asia. In its emersed state it is a dwarf plant with shoots densely covered in leaves. In aquaria, the feathered leaf shape is much more apparent, and the colour changes to light green. Limnophila sessiliflora is a good alternative to light-hungry Cabombas. As with many of the more delicate stem plants, these stems are better planted in a large group. Under good lighting the shoots turn a rusty brown colour

Red tiger lotus as sprouted tubers
Red Tiger Lotus is widespread across tropical Africa, where it inhabits various bodies of water, including temporary pools and lakes, and flowing water. It has a tuber for storing nutrients and robust floating leaves. Its most attractive feature is the submerged juvenile leaves that do not reach the water surface. Of the two colour forms, this red variant is most popular among aquarists; the green version is hard to find commercially. Tiger Lotus is generally undemanding; older, larger leaves should always be removed at the base of the tuber.