Characteristics and how to grow Ludwigia

Ludwigia is one of the water plants belonging to the genus Butterfly Tide in the redbud family. It is native to the United States and Canada. It is an aquatic plant with dark red leaves. In this article, we will explain the characteristics of Ludwigia and how to grow it.

What is Ludwigia?

Ludwigia is one of the water plants belonging to the genus Ludwigia (Ludwigia) in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to the United States and Canada in North America. It is a water plant with a wide range of leaf colors from yellowish green to red. In particular, the dark red color that appears when grown under appropriate growing conditions is the most distinctive feature of Ludwigia.There are different types of Ludwigia, such as "Ludwigia repens," which is almost bright red in color, and "Ludwigia ovaris," which is almost orange in color.

How to Grow Ludwigia

Ludwigia is one of the easiest water plants to handle, even for beginners. It prefers a water temperature of around 20 to 28 degrees Celsius. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline water. They tend to prefer slightly stronger light, and if kept in low-light conditions, their color may fade and the base of the plant may darken.In many cases, the color of the leaves will darken when kept in a place with a certain amount of strong light. It can grow up to 50 cm in length, so it is sometimes used as an aquatic plant to cover the back side of an aquarium.

Caring for Ludwigia

Ludwigia should be cared for by cutting off old, darkened or damaged areas.If the leaves or other parts of the aquarium are damaged, there may not be enough light to illuminate the aquarium itself.

How to increase Ludwigia

The "budding" method is often used to increase Ludwigia. When the stem has grown to a certain degree, cut it almost in half. If there is a root growing at a node in the middle of the stem, it is preferable to divide it at that point. If the cut top portion can be rooted to the bottom stone, it is finished.If you have difficulty in rooting, you can bundle several cut stems together and plant them in a stable manner. If side shoots grow, cut them from the area where the side shoots have sprouted and root several stems together in the same way, you have increased the number of plants.

Creatures and Ludwigia

Ludwigia is a good choice as an aquatic plant to be used in the company of living creatures. The leaves of Ludwigia have a central stem and are surrounded by leaves, making it an excellent food plant for aquatic organisms. If you are looking for a water plant that can be used as a substitute for food, this is the water plant we recommend. Even if it is not used as a food source, Ludwigia has dark red or orange leaves that contrast well with the red and white body colors of the creatures.The color of the leaves of Ludwigia can change depending on the amount of light, so the upper leaves can be red while the lower leaves are green, and the sight of the creatures swimming between them is highly recommended. If you are wondering what kind of aquatic plants to put in your aquarium, you should definitely consider Ludwigia as one of the candidates.