Blixa Japanese: care and content

On vast stretches from India to New Guinea, a beautiful water plant called blixa japonica (Japanese bliksa) grows. It is especially widespread in shallow-water zones - in the coastal stripes, in the rice fields of irrigation canals. Its popularity is due to aquarists who use it in their amazingly beautiful aquarium compositions.

Appearance of the plant

Externally similar to the bush, the bliss of Japanese is a long-stemmed plant with short and closely interconnected internodes. Narrow, pointed leaves that depart from a rather powerful stem can have a color ranging from green to golden-red. This depends mainly on the conditions of detention. The tips of the leaves slightly curl down, which gives the plant a particularly refined appearance. Blooms in small white flowers, located on a long stem. Blixa Japanese is not large in size, its maximum height is 15 cm, about this same width reaches this plant.

Features of growth

The content requirements are rather moderate and do not cause any special difficulties. The main thing is that there is sufficient lighting, additional food for obtaining the necessary color of the leaves and the supply of CO ₂ . For bliks of Japanese, acidic soils rich in composition are most preferable, since the nutrition of the plant is mainly due to the root system. With enough iron in the aquarium and good lighting, the leaves get a reddish hue. However, in some cases, this coloration can be caused by a shortage of nutrients. If the light is weak, the color of the leaves becomes bright green. For flowering, it is required to maintain a high level of phosphates. Then, on small and long stems, small white flowers begin to appear. Even under optimal conditions, the rate of increase in plant growth can not be called very rapid. The height, which can reach blix Japanese, mainly depends on the degree of illumination. With sufficient light, the plant barely reaches 7-10 cm, and if the illumination is weak, it can reach a maximum length.

Blixa Japanese: content and care

When you care for bliss, you should pay attention to the composition of water. This is of no small importance for such a sensitive plant. The most suitable is soft water, the pH of which is 5.5-7.5. The root system is a fairly fragile part of the plant, and too hard water can kill it, as a result, the grass will be on the surface. It is recommended to carry out qualitative filtration and change of water (at least a fifth of it) 2 times a month. The maintained optimal temperature should be from 22 to 28 ° C. Regularly, it is necessary to make the necessary root fertilizing and fertilizers, and also to provide the supply of CO ₂ .

If the conditions of blix content are violated, the Japanese can lose its decorative characteristics. Inadequate lighting, as well as lack of mineral substances or in excessively hard water, the growth of the plant is inhibited, the stem is partially bare, and the remaining leaves become faded. At the same time blix is considered to be a fairly stable inhabitant of the aquarium, well tolerates direct sunlight and lack of heating.

Very carefully, various means should be used to care for the aquarium ecosystem. They are used to suppress pathogenic microflora and algae. The most popular of all is "Sydex". When observing the necessary dosages, it does not harm plants. Cases of negative impact of "Sydex" on the Japanese bliss occur when the recommended concentrations or the frequency of application of the funds are violated.

Soil and top dressing

Sand, small pebbles are perfect as a primer. Its thickness should be at least 4 cm, and when planting plants under the roots it is recommended to put small clay balls.

A plant can die if you do not do it properly. For this purpose, clay, sapropel or specialized substrates are usually used. Nutrition of the plant mainly occurs with the help of the root system. But we should not forget about liquid fertilizers, the introduction of which contributes to giving the leaves an unusual reddish shade.

Reproduction

Instead of long blobs, Japanese, in contrast to other plants of this type, produces many side shoots. They are fairly easy to separate from the main plant with scissors. You need to do this carefully, because of the blix - the plant is very fragile and light, it is quite easy to damage it. Their transplantation can cause difficulty, since fixing these shoots in the soil with good buoyancy is often problematic. But the rooting occurs quickly, and then the root system begins to develop very actively, so that more and more new shoots appear. Thus, the bliss of Japanese gradually takes the form of a bush.

When such shrubs form a carpet in the aquarium, they become cramped, so some of them can dump roots and float to the surface. At the base of their rosette you can see the young roots. Such a bush enough to thrust into the ground, and it will continue to grow further.

Application

Thanks to the famous Japanese Takashi Amano, who used Japanese blues to form green hummocks in the aquarium in the middle plan, this plant became popular with aquarists. Looks blix and in the transitional steps between the plants of different plans, and also as a background. Quite attractive it looks among the large stones, especially in combination with stunted plants, located in the foreground. It is best to plant the plant in the center, where it eventually forms a clearing. Small schooling fish look very good against the background of these green thickets.

Despite its modest appearance, this plant perfectly fits in the most original compositions. Suitable for small aquariums as well as for larger aquariums. Planted in the foreground groups of 3-4 bushes, it will be very effective to look bliss Japanese. Photo of aquariums, where this plant is represented among others, will not leave anyone indifferent, because the magnificence of the underwater world always attracts the eye.