Ambulia (Limnophyla sessiliflora)

Today we are going to talk about an ornamental plant for the creation and decoration of habitats in fish tanks and ponds. It’s about ambulia. Its scientific name is Limnophyla sessiliflora and it is used as a natural plant in fish tanks. Although many people use artificial plants for aquarium decoration, many others prefer to add a more natural environment so that the fish can live in a place that is as close to their original habitat.

In this post you will learn all the characteristics of ambulia, requirements to take care of it and the best tips to get the most out of it. Do you want to know more? Keep reading

Main features

Many people are looking for a more natural environment for their fish. When choosing aquarium plants they opt for those of the same genus as the ambulia. This is because they have a beautiful appearance, a deep green color and are very easy to grow and maintain. All these characteristics give the ambulia great ornamental power for fish tanks.

Its origin is from Southeast Asia and it can be found in habitats with little or no currents. The moment there is a stronger current, you will not be able to find it. We do not have to go very far to find them, but they are in the middle and superficial areas of the water. In freshwater ecosystems, ambulia can be a problem because, due to its large volume, it spreads over large areas, making it difficult for other plants to carry out photosynthesis.

It is its intense coloring and leafy shape that are the reasons why ambulia is so popular with all aquarium lovers. Regarding the shape of the plant, it has a vegetative part in which the stem is located, which measures between 4 and 5 millimeters and is divided into numerous internodes more or less one centimeter apart. The leaves that have the central nerve emerge from each internode and are surrounded by leaf tissue. When we see all the leaves arranged under the water, the appearance is similar to that of a palm tree, forming several extensions.

Beauty in use

And it is that the ambulia has a more colorful part than another. The highest area of ​​the stem is the one that is best appreciated in an aquarium and is the one with great beauty. It is made up of a head of new leaves that grow indefinitely and that give this plant great ornamental value.

The roots can be found in the lowest area of ​​the stem and are in continuous contact with the substrate. They are white in color and can come out of internodes that are not so close to the ground to be able to spread further.

If we make a general observation of the plant, we can see all the very intense and bright green color. When the light conditions in the aquariums are optimal, the green color will turn as if it were that of an emerald. It really is beautiful.

Regarding the height, this plant does not present problems in the growth of the stems since they reach half a meter in length. If conditions are ideal, they can be up to a meter in length. If we want to keep this plant in good condition, we will have to have a larger aquarium.

Care that ambulia needs

To enjoy the beauty of this plant, we must meet some requirements and care that it demands. Although it is generally not demanding in terms of cultivation and maintenance, it must be cultivated correctly. We must bear in mind that this plant can grow up to 5 centimeters per week, so in a short time we will be able to see it very vigorous and full of color.

They have great facility to adapt to many types of water and light. If our aquarium is not of a large size, to prevent the plant from overflowing and giving problems in the care, we will have to prune it from time to time.

One of the requirements that this plant demands is to have a substrate that is medium-grained and rich in minerals. Among them, iron is the mineral used to highlight the green color. The grains that are put on the substrate should not be too compacted. We must bear in mind that the roots of the ambulia are quite fragile and, if the grains are very compact, they will break and will not be able to grow.

To guarantee them enough light, they need between 0.7 and 1.5 watts for every liter of water in the aquarium. If we put less light on it, the plant will not be able to develop correctly. On the contrary, if we put a light even more powerful than this, we will be causing the plant to burn due to saturation. The most recommended light to use is monochromatic white. In this way we will be ensuring that they will develop their intense green color.

Some requirements

Another important requirement for the healthy maintenance of ambulia is the pH of the water. It should be between 6 and 8.5 and with a hardness between 5 and 30 ° dGH. The water temperature must remain between 22 and 30 degrees, which makes it possible to tolerate any sudden change without damaging the least. If we are very strict with the growth of this plant, we must know that the optimal range is 24 to 27 degrees. So if we know how to keep the temperature always stable, it will be perfect.

It is highly recommended to fertilize once a week with a special liquid fertilizer for aquatic plants. For optimal growth it is good to fertilize them once a month also with liquid fertilizer in pills. We will use it by burying it next to the stem.

As we have mentioned before, this plant is not only used to decorate aquariums, but you can plant it in beautiful ponds in gardens to increase its beauty. In external environments we should not worry if the sunlight hits them throughout the day, since it will be perfect for their photosynthesis rate.

I hope that with this information you can perfectly care for and enjoy your ambulia both in the aquarium and in the pond.