Echinodorus Red Rubin
Plant Profile
The Red Rubin Sword (Echinodorus 'Red Rubin') is a popular hybridization that stands out with large, oval leaves that feature slightly wavy edges, prominent golden leaf veins, and an incredible color palette ranging from warm gold and olive-green to deep purple and fiery red. Reaching an impressive height of 10 to 24 inches, it rapidly becomes a majestic backdrop or centerpiece in medium to large aquariums. Extremely hardy and easy to care for, the Red Rubin Sword is a fantastic, adaptable choice for aquascapers looking to create sweeping contrast behind smaller green stem plants and ground covers in a planted tank.
Key Features & Benefits
- Broad, wavy foliage displays a rich mix of gold, red, purple, and deep green hues with distinct golden leaf veins.
- Hardy, fast-growing background plant that provides magnificent visual structure in larger display tanks.
- Adaptable and low-maintenance species that thrives under a wide variety of lighting and water conditions.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Prep the plant by removing it from the pot and clearing all rockwool from the roots.
- Plant the roots deeply into your aquarium soil, keeping the crown of the plant resting just above the substrate surface to prevent rot.
- All Echinodorus are heavy root feeders that rely on rich substrate nutrition; placing root tabs near the base supports steady, healthy leaf development.
- Provide moderate lighting; while CO2 injection isn't strictly required, regular liquid iron supplementation and good lighting will enhance its deep ruby-red and purple colors.
- Avoid using copper-based medications in tanks containing Echinodorus species, as sword plants are particularly sensitive to copper.
- To propagate, look for adventitious daughter plantlets forming along flowering runners or side shoots; once they sprout small roots, snip them off and plant them directly into your aquarium soil. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Echinodorus 'Red Rubin' |
| Common Name(s) | Red Rubin Sword, Echinodorus Red Rubin |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Large Rosette Sword Plant |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Moderate |
| CO2 Requirement | Optional / Not Necessary (Enhances growth speed and leaf density) |
| Placement / Usage | Background Centerpiece (Large Aquariums) |
| Height / Size | 10–24”+ |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Water Parameters | pH 5.5–8.0 |
| Propagation Method | Adventitious Shoots / Runner Plantlets |
| Origin | Cultivar / Cultivated Hybrid |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I prep potted Echinodorus Red Rubin before planting?
Carefully remove the plant from its plastic pot and peel away the rockwool surround under room-temperature tap water. Gently separate the fibrous roots, snip off any dead or damaged outer leaves, and insert the root system into your aquarium soil using pinsettes.
2. How do I keep my Red Rubin Sword from shading other plants?
Because the Red Rubin Sword produces large, broad leaves, it can occasionally block light from reaching smaller carpet plants below. Simply trim older or larger outer leaves at the base of the crown using sharp, straight scissors to maintain the desired size and allow light to penetrate.
3. Why is root feeding so important for the Red Rubin Sword?
Echinodorus species are heavy root feeders that draw the vast majority of their nutrients through their extensive root system rather than the water column. Supplementing your aquarium soil with root tabs every few months ensures strong root anchorages and bright, vibrant red foliage.