Blyxa japonica

Family
Hydrocharitaceae

Common Name
Blyxa japonica

Origin
Eastern Asia; they are found in shallow pools and marshes as well as forest streams in tropical Asia.

Lighting Requirements
Bright, higher lighting levels will produce deeper colours in the leaves.

Propagation
This plant is extremely easy to propagate, it will develop basal shoots which develop into miniature plants in their own right. It is simply a matter of pulling these side shoots away from the mother plant and securing then into the substrate, a root system will quickly develop. They are very buoyant so a little lead weighting may assist in keeping them secure initially.

Difficulty
Medium; they can be difficult to grow if not given the right conditions.

Short Description
This plant has become very popular recently, especially in the hobby of aquascaping planted tanks. They resemble a grass but they are not. CO₂ injection will definitely help in their growth as well as bright lighting and plenty of nutrients in the water. If conditions are met they will produce leaves with a reddish hue and are small and compact, if they are lacking in their requirements, they will develop into tall lanky plants with no strength.