01
Overview
Red Flame pushes the spotted-sword line further than Ozelot, with red flushed in streaks and washes across the whole blade. The intensity varies leaf to leaf, so a healthy plant looks convincingly hand-painted.
02
Aquascaping use
Feature it against calm green surroundings; beside other red plants the marbling turns to visual static. Midground placement in a larger tank shows the whole rosette.
03
Planting
Rich, deep substrate and an undisturbed position let it build the root mass the color depends on. Handle the brittle leaf stalks gently when planting.
Rich substrate
04
Light & CO₂
Medium light minimum for saturated marbling; it goes ember-dull in shade. CO₂ helps it hold color while growing at pace.
05
Substrate & fertilization
Heavy root feeding plus iron in the water column feeds both growth and pigment. This cultivar shows starvation faster than green swords.
Feeding behavior: Root feeder. Nutrient demand: high.
06
Growth, trimming & propagation
Groom out the oldest, greenest leaves to emphasize fresh red growth. Take plantlets from flower stalks for propagation.
Adventitious plantlets
07
Common problems
- !Color collapses under weak light or lean feeding
- !Slightly touchier about transplanting than plain swords
- !Needs large-tank space to mature
