{"product_id":"red-melon-sword","title":"Red Melon Sword","description":"\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed and green leaves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEasy care\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide leaves for shelter\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eNot available to be shipped to Hawaii and Alaska.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed melon sword is an easy plant with a striking appearance. As per its common name, this plant will produce vibrant red and green foliage. It does well as a background plant in aquascaping and can serve as a centerpiece in smaller aquariums due to its eye-catching appearance. Its big, rounded leaves provide a nice, shady place for fish to take shelter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eEchinodorus osiris\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eEchinodorus \u003c\/em\u003e'Barthii'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hybrid of \u003cem\u003eEchinodorus \u003c\/em\u003espp. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkill Level: \u003c\/strong\u003eEasy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement: \u003c\/strong\u003eBackground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Light: \u003c\/strong\u003eLow to Medium Light 10-35 PAR (\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"(click to see our PAR chart)\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0311\/3149\/files\/par_brightness_graphic_v3_with_tank_sizes_32ec4d9e-f111-496a-8440-0cad69724507.png?v=1714069077\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eclick to see our PAR chart)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e Requirement:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eNone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePreferred Fertilizer:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Root Tabs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/collections\/the-easy-range\/products\/easy-root-tabs\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEasy Root Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/collections\/the-easy-range\/products\/easy-green-all-in-one-fertilizer\" title=\"Easy Green\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEasy Green liquid fertilizer\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation\u003c\/strong\u003e: Trim off side shoots and replant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e***Being a natural product, sizes can vary from what is shown.***\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow to Plant Red Melon Sword Aquarium Plant\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Remove the potted plant from plastic basket, and split the rock wool in half.\u003cbr\u003e2. Carefully remove the plant roots from the rock wool, and make sure to remove all the small, yellow fertilizer balls. Wash off any remaining debris.\u003cbr\u003e3. Use \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/products\/planting-tweezers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eplanting tweezers\u003c\/a\u003e or your fingers to push the roots of the sword deeply into the substrate until they are completely buried. Pull out the plant slightly so that the crown (i.e., the base of the plant where all the leaves come out) is not covered with substrate.\u003cbr\u003e4. If the plant keeps popping out of the ground, try inserting the plant at an angle or wrap a \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/products\/plant-weights\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eplant weight\u003c\/a\u003e at the bottom of the plant to keep it anchored.\u003cbr\u003e5. Make sure to add lots of \u003ca rel=\"null noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/products\/easy-root-tabs\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eroot tabs\u003c\/a\u003e if you’re using inert substrate or if your nutrient-rich substrate is depleted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow to Care for Red Melon Sword Plant\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— Red melon sword plant care is very easy, so start by using low to medium lighting between 10-35 PAR. \u003cbr\u003e— Why is my new sword plant melting? Sword plants are sometimes known to experience melting when they suddenly move to a new environment. To help the plant recover faster and grow new leaves that are accustomed to your water parameters, leave the roots planted in the ground and make sure to provide nutrient-rich planted tank substrate or \u003ca title=\"Root Tabs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/collections\/plant-supplies\/products\/easy-root-tabs\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEasy Root Tabs\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e— Why is my red melon sword turning brown after it was growing so well? Sword plants absorb lots of nutrients from the ground, so it may be a nutrient deficiency. If the larger, outer leaves are yellowing and dying after a couple of months, please add more \u003ca href=\"\/products\/easy-root-tabs\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eroot tabs\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e— How to trim red melon sword: If the sword plant has dying or melting leaves, cut them off at the base of the leaf.\u003cbr\u003e— Note: Bristlenose plecos and other plecos have been known to eat sword plants, so watch out for this if you see holes in the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow to Propagate Red Melon Sword\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSword plants reproduce by sending out a horizontal runner with a little plantlet at the end. The plantlet will sprout its own leaves and roots that grow into the ground. You can cut off the plantlet and re-plant it in a different location.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plants","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":27839883464,"sku":"27839883464","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0311\/3149\/files\/red-melon-sword-9216135.jpg?v=1766095097","url":"https:\/\/www.aquariumcoop.mom\/products\/red-melon-sword","provider":"Aquarium Co-Op","version":"1.0","type":"link"}