Cabomba plants

Introduction

How to care 

• Commons

• Planting

• Trimming & Reproduction

Water Conditions

Introduction

Cobomba plants are available in aqua stores. It has some names as: Green Cabomba, Carolina Fanwort, Brazilian Fanwort, or simply "Rong Đuôi Chó", "Rong đuôi chồn", "Rong la hán xanh", "Rong lá ngò" from Vietnam. Eaten locally as a vegetable. 

Cobomba plants can be green, purple or red. If you want to buy this plant from aqua stores, please check the plants. if it has some roots growing from the stems and evidence of new growth, the plant have small buds or flowers then you can buy it. These are all indications that the plant is healthy. 

It reaches 30-80 cm and each stem can become 5-8 cm wide. The least demanding of the Cabomba-species, but still causes problems in poorly lit aquariums. If there is not sufficient light, try Limnophila sessiliflora, which requires less light. Most decorative when planted in groups.

A bundle of stems or young plants gathered in an anchor. Remove the anchor and split into separate plants. Regarding stem plants, remove the leaves from the lowest 5 cm (2“). Remove any damaged leaves. Plant the individual plants with some distance into the bottom substrate. Roots will develop soon and the plant start growing.

How to care 

Commons

Cabomba care can be not hard, but it not easy. So Cabomba plants may not be the best choice for beginners. 

Cabomba care can be not easy when you are trying to keep it in low tech tanks. In low light, low tech tanks, a Cabomba plants often start to break apart and die after some days. Cabomba plants require morre watt of light per gallon for longer hours (about 7 hours). 

In addition to lighting requirements, a Cabomba plant may need liquid fertilizer or root tabs to provide supplements of iron and other necessary minerals. Cabomba plants may not need Co2 supplements but it would benefit from Co2. 

Another thing is which species of fish this plant should be kept with. Because it is delicate, so it is not the best choice for cichlids, goldfish or some types of Apple Snail may be interested in eating it. 

Planting 

With Cabomba Plants, you can plant in substrate or keep as a floating plant. 

Gently plant each stem in an inch or more of nutrient rich plant substrate, an inch or more apart. Its good to plant stems slightly apart to give them room to grow and sway. Be careful not to pack the substrate around the planted stem too tightly because the stem may break. At the same time, make sure the stem is secure because Cabomba plants have a tendency to float around. Its a good idea to plant the longer stems in the back rows and the shorter stems in the front rows. If planted correctly, Cabomba plants can create a nice “dense forest” look. After about a week or so, the plant will take root and be better able to hold itself in place.

Its also possible to keep Cabomba as a floating plant. Floating Cabomba is easy. Just drop the stems in the tank and the stems will float near the water surface. Because the stems are closer to the light source, they can grow faster floating as opposed to planted. They can also sprout fine white roots from the stem, and can even flower.

Trimming & Reproduction

Trimming Cabomba plant stems is not difficult. The key to trimming Cabomba is to cut the stems very gently. Be careful to not tug the plant and cause breaking, cracking, excessive shedding or uprooting. And if the trimmings are at least three inches long and look to be in good shape, they can be floated in the water or planted in the substrate. And they will grow into new plants on their own. 

Water Conditions

Water Parameters: Another Cabomba care issue has to do with aquarium water. A Cabomba plant likes clean tanks with clear gently moving water. If aquarium water moves too quickly, the plant might get jostled around and uprooted.

Aquarium pH: 6.8 – 7.5. Some hobbyists suggest lower is also acceptable.
Water Temperature: Tropical fish range, 72 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lighting: Medium to High
Tank Size: Small to Large