Care specifications
| Type | Rosette |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Light | Medium (30–70 µmol PAR) |
| CO2 | Beneficial, not required |
| Fertilizer demand | Medium |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Max height | 6 in |
| Spread | 4 in |
| Placement | Foreground, Midground |
| Attaches to hardscape | No |
| Snail & shrimp safe | Yes |
| Temperature | 72–82 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Color | Green |
| Trimming | Regular |
| Styles | Nature, Dutch, Jungle |
Get Helanthium Bolivianum 'Quadricostatus'
Propagation
It spreads by runners; daughter plants pop up on horizontal shoots and can be cut free once rooted.
Frequently asked questions
Does Helanthium Quadricostatus need CO2 to carpet?
No. It will spread by runners in moderate light without CO2, which makes it a forgiving carpeting option for low-tech tanks. CO2 and root tabs simply produce a thicker, faster carpet.
How is this different from a regular chain sword?
It is one of the chain swords, with slightly broader strap-like leaves than the narrowest tenellus forms and a quick runner habit. It stays low, around four to six inches, and fills space horizontally rather than growing tall.
Helanthium Bolivianum 'Quadricostatus' appears in
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