Oval leaves in reddish-brown, on a compact sword. Echinodorus 'Red Phoenix' holds its color across the whole leaf rather than only on new growth — how deep that red runs depends directly on how much light and root feeding it gets. What You'll Receive Enhance your aquarium with our fresh, high-quality plants, available in convenient formats: Loose Bare-Root Plants: Includes approximately 1-2 loose, bare-root plants, providing flexibility in planting and arrangement. Rooted Bunched: Approximately 1-2 plants, bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy placement. Rooted Potted: Includes approximately 1-2 plants, potted in a net pot with rock wool, ensuring stability and ease of placement in your aquarium. Plant Profile Common name — Red Phoenix Sword Scientific name — Echinodorus 'Red Phoenix' Origin — Cultivated hybrid; the genus is native to South America Placement — Midground to background Mature height — 10-16 inches Growth rate — Medium Care Difficulty — Intermediate Light — Medium to high. Intensity sets how deep the red runs. CO₂ — Recommended. It holds color and form far better with it. Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.5-7.5. Soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. 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 The color is a direct function of feeding and light. This is not a plant that is red or not red — it sits on a slider. Thin light and inert gravel give you a brownish-green plant; medium-high light over a fed substrate gives you the color in the photograph. Budget for root tabs before you buy it. It does not spread by runners. Swords propagate by throwing a tall floral stalk that carries plantlets along its length. Leave each attached until it has four or five leaves and its own roots, then cut it free and plant it. Watching the substrate for runners will get you nothing. Plant the crown at substrate level, never below. Cover the roots and leave the growing point exposed. A buried crown rots from the center. Steady beats ideal. It tolerates a wide range of water but dislikes sudden swings. Consistent weekly water changes matter more than hitting a particular number. Expect the first leaves to melt as it converts from emersed nursery growth. The second flush is the one that shows the real color. 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, pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
