Green above water, red below it. Echinodorus 'Big Bear' is grown emersed in strong green foliage, then turns rusty red to deep crimson within days of going under — one of the more dramatic transitions in the genus, on a large rosette that reaches two feet. In the trade since 1995. What You'll Receive Sold as emerged bare-root plants, bunched plants, or potted plants Bare-root plants | approx. 1-2 loose, bare-root plants Bunched plants | approx. 1-2 rooted plants bundle with foam and plant's weight Potted plants | approx. 1-2 rooted plants potted with rockwool Plant Profile Common name — Big Bear Sword Scientific name — Echinodorus 'Big Bear' Origin — Cultivated hybrid; the genus is native to South America Placement — Background Mature height — 16-24 inches Growth rate — Fast Care Difficulty — Beginner, provided you feed the roots Light — Medium CO₂ — Not required Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5 Substrate — Required. Heavy root feeder — root tabs or aquasoil under the crown. Growth habit — Amphibious rosette; also grows emersed Propagation — Adventitious plantlets on aerial floral stalks Grower's Notes It arrives green. That is correct. Nursery plants are grown above water, where the leaves are plain green. The red appears on submerged growth within days to a couple of weeks. If your plant looks nothing like the photograph on arrival, it has not been mis-shipped — it has not converted yet. Buy it for a big tank. At 16-24 inches and fast-growing by sword standards, Big Bear will dominate anything under 40 gallons. That vigour is the appeal in a large aquarium and the problem in a small one. Feed it at the roots. A fast, heavy root feeder in inert gravel exhausts what little is there and then yellows. Root tabs or aquasoil are not optional at this size. Plant the crown at substrate level, never below, in at least three inches of substrate. A buried crown rots from the centre. It propagates from floral stalks, not runners. A settled plant sends a tall stalk carrying plantlets. Leave each attached until it has four or five leaves and its own roots, then cut it free. Want to go deeper? Read our complete Amazon Sword (Echinodorus) Care Guide. Notes Disclaimer: Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
