About the species

Vallisneria spiralis 'Tiger' takes its name from the dark cross-stripes that tiger its narrow, strap-shaped leaves. The leaves grow 30–50 centimetres long and one to two centimetres wide, making them shorter and narrower than most other Vallisneria. The species comes from Asia and grows in practically any light and water conditions.

Facts

• Latin name: Vallisneria spiralis 'Tiger'
• Plant type: Runner plant
• Origin: Asia
• Height: 20–30 cm
• Growth rate: Medium
• Position: Background

Light requirement

Low light requirement. It manages with the lighting that comes with most aquariums and is happy in partial shade behind or beneath taller plants. Strong lighting does not harm it, but raises the risk of algae on the leaves because the plant cannot use all the available light.

CO₂ & nutrition

Manages entirely without added CO₂, which makes it as suitable for a simple aquarium as for an aquascape. Liquid carbon or injected CO₂ speeds up growth but is never a requirement. Dose an all-round fertiliser with iron and micronutrients every week.

Planting

Plant the individual plants with their roots in the substrate and the crown free above it. The plant then spreads by itself with runners beneath the substrate and gradually fills out the area, so leave room around each plant from the start.

Carefully remove the pot and rinse the rock wool off the roots before planting — leftover rock wool can otherwise hinder rooting.

Care & propagation

Thin the runners where you do not want them and move the daughter plants where you want more. Cut them free with scissors rather than pulling, so the mother plant's roots stay put. A nutrient-rich substrate makes it spread considerably faster.

Position in the aquarium

Given its mature height it belongs at the back or along the sides, where it forms a dense wall of greenery and hides equipment. In a smaller aquarium it can also be used as a solitaire in one corner.

Difficulty level

🟢 Easy — grows in most aquariums without CO₂ and under ordinary lighting.

Delivery format

Delivered as a pot grown submerged, with the roots in rock wool. The pot holds several plants or stems that can be divided and planted separately.

Recommendation

Its short, narrow leaves make it the Vallisneria that suits an ordinary home aquarium best — it does not shade out smaller plants in front of it. Give it a nutrient-rich substrate and the runners will fill the corner on their own.