Ludwigia Pantanal ‘Verticillata’

Key success factors

• Requires soft water; 3dKH and below. Flexible with GH ranges (2-10+dGH).

• Requires high CO2 levels (30ppm and up). ‘Meta’ Variant of Ludwigia panatal is much more tolerant of lower CO2 levels (10ppm and up).

• High light levels (100+ umols of PAR for better coloration, and improvement will be seen upwards of 200, 300 umols) these numbers are measured at the substrate level.

• Low Nitrate levels in the water column can improve coloration, but plants should have a rich substrate if doing this.

• Regular all round fertilization. This can be done through regular/heavier water column dosing or substrate enrichment. Both angles should be covered for optimal results. Ammoniacal nitrogen access gives both better coloration and growth form.

• Grows quite a few inches per week, so this species is more suitable for taller tanks.

Ludwigia ‘Pantanal’ requires soft water (< 3dKH) to grow well. It is a heavy feeder, and usually either booms or busts – it either grows well and rapidly, or stunts and deteriorates when conditions are not favorable. It is a species that truly likes excess – preferring high light, high CO2 levels, and high nutrient availability. It is very sensitive to growth conditions and react very quickly to changing parameters. Color and form changes can usually be seen within the day when parameters are changed. Tip stunting is commonly seen when grow conditions are lacking. Higher light levels couple with proper fertilization impacts coloration; lower light levels tend to give more greenish leaves further from the top.

The plant benefits from ammoniacal Nitrogen availability. This can be provided through the water column, but is best provided through the substrate. Correct balance of micros also affect tip form and coloration.