Cabomba

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Cabomba

Cabomba aquatica (from Lindley 1853)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Cabombaceae
Genus:	Cabomba Aubl.

Species

See text

Cabomba is a waterplant genus, one of two belonging to the family Cabombaceae. It has divided submerged leaves in the shape of a fan (hence the vernacular name fanwort) and is much favoured by aquarists as an ornamental and oxygenating plant for fishtanks. Its use in the aquarium trade has led to some species being introduced to parts of the world, such as Australia, where they have become pestilential weeds.

Species

Cabomba aquatica Aubl. (fanwort)
Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray
Cabomba furcata Schult. & Schult. f.
Cabomba haynesii Wiersema
Cabomba palaeformis Fassett

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Cabomba is also an extremely interesting addition to the planted aquarium. Cabomba in the aquarium grows extremely fast, the recorded fastest growth was an inch in one day. Green Cabomba is the most common plant, as well as the easiest to take care of. Red Cabomba is, howeer, one of the hardest plants to take care of in the aquarium.

All Cabomba plants in the aquarium benefit from regular CO2 injection, fertilization, as well as a good quality substrate that is rich in all of the macro- and micronutrients. Fertilization that is regularly used includes Flourish, Flourish Iron, and Flourish Potassium. The plant seems to thrive in light conditions from 1.5-3 watts per gallon. Temperatures should be from 65°-90° Fahrenheit.

To propogate the plant, simply snip off a 4 inch piece of the branch below the node from the fastest-growing plant. Be sure to plant the smaller plant elsewhere, as it will require strong sunlight to start root synthesis.