Baka - Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Mini'

Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Mini’

Scientific Name: Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Mini’
Common Name: Mini Sword Plant / Mini Creeping Burhead
Origin: South America
Family: Alismataceae
Height: 10–25 cm
Growth Rate: Slow
Placement in Tank: Foreground, Midground
Light Requirement: Medium to High
CO₂ Requirement: Recommended for compact, healthy growth
Temperature: 22–28°C
pH: 5.0–8.0
Propagation: Adventitious plantlets on flower stalks

Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Mini’ is a compact and attractive sword plant that offers the classic rosette form of an Echinodorus without the large size normally associated with the genus. Reaching only around 10–25 cm in height, it is particularly well suited to smaller aquariums or to foreground and midground placement in larger planted tanks.

Its fresh, light-green leaves form neat rosettes that create a beautiful contrast against darker green, red or finely textured plants. With good lighting and sufficient nutrition, the plant remains especially compact, making it an excellent choice for aquascapes where a broad-leaved rosette plant is wanted without overwhelming the layout.

Key Features:

• Compact Echinodorus Variety: Unlike many sword plants that can quickly dominate an aquarium, Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Mini’ generally remains below 25 cm, making it suitable for smaller tanks and carefully designed aquascapes.

• Fresh Light-Green Foliage: Its bright green leaves provide excellent contrast against darker plants, red stem plants, wood and stone hardscape.

• Beautiful Rosette Growth: The leaves develop from a central rosette, creating a naturally full and structured appearance.

• Ideal for Smaller Aquariums: Its compact size makes it particularly useful in nano and 60 cm aquariums, while in larger tanks it can be used effectively in the foreground or midground.

• Slow, Manageable Growth: Its relatively slow growth rate makes this an easy plant to incorporate into layouts without frequent trimming or maintenance.

Care Requirements:

• Lighting: Medium to high lighting is recommended. Good lighting encourages shorter, denser growth and helps the plant maintain its attractive compact rosette form.

• CO₂: CO₂ supplementation is recommended for the best growth and overall appearance. In planted aquariums, approximately 20–30 mg/L CO₂ will support healthy, compact development.

• Water Parameters: This plant is adaptable to a wide range of aquarium conditions, with a preferred temperature of 22–28°C and a pH range of approximately 5.0–8.0.

• Nutrition: Like most Echinodorus, ‘Mini’ benefits greatly from nutrients available around its roots. A nutrient-rich substrate or regular use of root fertiliser will encourage strong root development and healthy new leaves.

• Maintenance: Growth is relatively slow and maintenance is minimal. Older, damaged or deteriorating leaves can be removed at the base to encourage fresh growth.

Planting Tips:

• Plant directly into the substrate, ensuring that the roots are well anchored while keeping the crown of the plant above the substrate.

• For the most compact growth, provide good lighting together with consistent nutrition and CO₂.

• Allow some space around each plant so that the rosette can develop naturally without being shaded by faster-growing species.

• In smaller aquariums, use Echinodorus cordifolius ‘Mini’ as a feature plant in the foreground or midground. In larger aquascapes, several plants can be grouped together to create a lush transition between low foreground plants and taller background species.

• Its light-green foliage pairs particularly well with dark hardscape, deep-green plants and red or bronze species, creating strong colour and texture contrast.