Large Amazon Sword plant as centerpiece in a planted aquarium with tropical fish

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Amazon Sword Plant Care: The Complete Guide for Beginners

May 14, 2026

Why the Amazon Sword Is the King of Aquarium Plants

The Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri / Echinodorus amazonicus) is the most iconic aquarium plant in the hobby — and for good reason. Its large, bright green sword-shaped leaves create a stunning focal point in any tank, growing into an impressive bush that can reach 12–20 inches tall. It's hardy, beginner-friendly, and looks spectacular as a background or centerpiece plant.

If you're starting your first planted tank, the Amazon Sword should be at the top of your list. At Canton Aquatics, we grow Amazon Swords in our greenhouse to give you healthy, well-established plants that transition quickly to your aquarium.

Amazon Sword at a Glance

Parameter	Details
Scientific Name	Echinodorus bleheri / E. amazonicus
Common Names	Amazon Sword, Sword Plant
Origin	Amazon River Basin, South America
Difficulty	Easy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Max Height	12–20 inches (30–50 cm)
Light Requirement	Low to Medium
CO2	Not required
Temperature	72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH	6.5–7.5
Placement	Background or midground centerpiece

How to Plant an Amazon Sword

Substrate Matters

Amazon Swords are heavy root feeders. The most important thing you can do for your sword plant is give it a nutrient-rich substrate. Aqua soil, Fluval Stratum, or plain gravel supplemented with root tabs all work well.

Planting Depth

When planting, bury the roots completely but keep the crown (where leaves emerge) above the substrate. Burying the crown will cause the plant to rot. This is the #1 mistake beginners make with Amazon Swords.

Give It Space

A mature Amazon Sword can grow 12–20 inches wide. Plant it in the center-back or rear corners of your tank, giving it at least 6 inches of clearance from neighboring plants. It will grow into the space over several weeks.

Lighting Requirements

One of the Amazon Sword's greatest strengths is its tolerance for low light. It will grow — slowly — under basic aquarium lights. Here's what to expect at different light levels:

Low light (20–30 PAR): Slow growth, smaller leaves, but healthy and green. Perfect for low-tech tanks.
Medium light (40–60 PAR): Optimal. Steady growth, full-sized leaves, no CO2 needed.
High light (60+ PAR): Fast growth but may trigger algae on leaves without CO2 and proper nutrients.

Run lights for 8–10 hours per day. The Amazon Sword is not demanding about light spectrum — any full-spectrum aquarium LED will work.

Fertilization: The Key to a Thriving Sword

This is where most people go wrong with Amazon Swords. Because they're heavy root feeders, root tabs are essential — liquid fertilizer alone isn't enough.

Root Tabs

Push a root tab into the substrate 1–2 inches from the plant's base every 4–6 weeks. The sword's extensive root system will find the nutrients. Brands like Seachem Root Tabs, Aquarium Co-Op Easy Root Tabs, or Osmocote capsules all work well.

Liquid Fertilizer

Supplement with an all-in-one liquid fertilizer for micronutrients (iron, manganese, boron). Dose weekly according to your fertilizer's instructions. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of yellowing leaves.

CO2

Amazon Swords do not require CO2 injection. They grow perfectly fine in low-tech setups. CO2 will speed up growth, but it's absolutely not necessary. Save your CO2 budget for more demanding plants.

Common Problems and Fixes

Problem	Cause	Solution
Yellowing leaves	Iron or nutrient deficiency	Add root tabs + dose liquid iron
Old leaves melting	Transition melt (emersed → submersed)	Normal — new submersed leaves will grow. Don't remove the plant.
Small, stunted leaves	Insufficient root nutrition	Add root tabs every 4–6 weeks
Transparent or holey leaves	Potassium deficiency	Dose potassium supplement
Algae on leaves	Too much light, low nutrients	Reduce photoperiod, add fertilizer, introduce otocinclus or nerite snails
Plant floating up	Roots not established yet	Anchor with a plant weight or rock until roots grip substrate

Amazon Sword Transition Melt: Don't Panic

The most common question we get: "My Amazon Sword is melting — is it dying?"

Almost certainly not. Most Amazon Swords are grown emersed (above water) in greenhouses, including ours. When you put them underwater, the emersed leaves gradually die back and are replaced by new submersed growth. This process takes 2–4 weeks and is completely normal.

What to do during melt:

Leave the plant in place — the roots are still healthy
Trim fully dead (brown/mushy) leaves at the base
Keep the lighting and nutrients consistent
New, thinner submersed leaves will emerge from the center of the rosette

Propagation

Amazon Swords propagate through adventitious plantlets — the mother plant sends up a long flower stalk, and baby plants form at the nodes along the stalk. To propagate:

Let the stalk grow until the baby plants develop 3–4 leaves and visible roots
Cut the plantlet from the stalk
Plant the baby sword in the substrate with root tabs

A single mother plant can produce dozens of babies over its lifetime, making it an incredibly generous plant to grow.

Amazon Sword Varieties

Several varieties of Echinodorus are sold as "Amazon Swords":

Echinodorus bleheri — The classic Amazon Sword. Bright green, large leaves.
Echinodorus amazonicus — Narrower leaves than bleheri, more graceful look.
Amazon Sword Red Flame — New leaves emerge red/pink and turn green as they mature. Stunning!
Echinodorus 'Rosé' — Compact variety with pink-tinged leaves. Great for smaller tanks.
Echinodorus 'Ozelot' — Dark red/brown spotted leaves. A showstopper.

Best Tank Setup for Amazon Swords

Tank size: 20 gallons minimum (the plant gets big!)
Substrate: Nutrient-rich (aqua soil, Stratum) or gravel + root tabs
Lighting: Any standard aquarium LED
Filter: Moderate flow — swords don't need strong current
Temperature: 72–82°F (most tropical community tanks)
Tank mates: Compatible with virtually all tropical community fish, shrimp, and snails

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast do Amazon Swords grow?

With root tabs and medium light, expect 1–2 new leaves per week. A newly planted sword reaches its full size in about 3–4 months. Growth is slower in low-light setups but still steady.

Can Amazon Swords grow in gravel?

Yes — but only if you supplement with root tabs. Plain gravel has zero nutrients, and Amazon Swords are root feeders. Without root tabs in gravel, the plant will slowly starve and yellow.

Do Amazon Swords need CO2?

No. Amazon Swords are one of the best plants for low-tech, no-CO2 aquariums. They grow a bit faster with CO2 injection, but they'll thrive without it as long as they have root nutrition and decent light.

How big do Amazon Swords get?

In a standard aquarium, expect 12–20 inches tall and 10–15 inches wide. In larger tanks with excellent conditions, they can grow even bigger. They're true background plants.

Shop Amazon Swords at Canton Aquatics

Browse our live aquarium plants for greenhouse-grown Amazon Swords in multiple varieties. Every plant ships with our live arrival guarantee — healthy, well-rooted, and ready to grow in your tank.