Echinodorus Big Bear
Plant Profile
Echinodorus 'Big Bear', commonly known as the Big Bear Sword, is a distinctive hybrid cultivar with wide, olive-green leaves marked with dark red splotches and marbling. Living up to its name, it produces a robust, broad rosette that brings a grounded, focal presence to background zones in planted tanks. Under submerged conditions, younger inner leaves display the most vivid reddish-brown mottling before maturing into a deep, patterned green. As a low-maintenance species that tolerates low lighting and basic aquarium setups, it serves as an excellent option among aquarium plants for beginners managing medium-to-large aquariums.
Key Features & Notes
- Broad green foliage heavily patterned with red splotches provides unique mottled visual contrast.
- Dense, wide rosette structure offers full background coverage that easily hides heaters and filter pipes.
- Thrives under low light and low-tech parameters without requiring mandatory CO2 injection.
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 line 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.
- Supplemental CO2 injection accelerates growth and encourages denser, fuller foliage, though the plant will still grow steadily in low-tech setups.
- Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
- Final size and coloration depend entirely on your specific aquarium conditions; please note that photos are a representation, and individual plants may vary.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Echinodorus 'Big Bear' |
| Common Name(s) | Big Bear Sword, Big Bear Amazon Sword |
| Family | Alismataceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy | Rosette plant / Cultivar |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Light Requirement | Low to Moderate |
| CO2 Requirement | Not required (Optional) |
| Placement / Usage | Midground to Background |
| Height / Size | 6–8+ inches |
| Growth Rate | Slow to Moderate |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.0–7.5 |
| Propagation Method | Separate new plantlets from the root crown or adventitious shoots |
| Origin | Cultivated cultivar (Species origin: South America) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I prune an Echinodorus when it grows too large?
Prune older or overgrown outer leaves individually near the root crown using sharp aquascaping scissors. Avoid cutting across leaf blades, as damaged leaf tips will turn brown rather than regrowing.
2. Can this background plant grow in low-tech aquariums without CO2?
Yes, this species thrives in low-tech aquariums without pressurized CO2, provided it receives adequate root supplementation and consistent lighting.
3. Why are the leaves on my new Echinodorus melting or turning yellow?
Sword plants are often grown emersed and shed their old emersed leaves when submerged to adapt to underwater growth. Keep water parameters stable and supply root tabs near the base to support new leaves.