Nymphaea zenkeri

Scientific name: Nymphaea zenkeri

Family: Nymphaecaceae

Usual maximum size in aquariums: 5 - 30 cm (1.97 - 11.81 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 6.5 - 7.2

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 4 - 8°N (71.43 - 142.86ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 22 - 28 °C (71.6 - 82.4°F)

Reproduction of the plant: Rhizome

Origin (in the wild): Africa

How fast these plants grow: Normal

Recommended substrate: Fine gravel

Demands on lighting: Bright

Ideal placement in a fish tank: Foreground

Family

Nymphaecaceae

Common Name

Tiger Lotus

Origin

East Africa, Southeast Asia

Planting Area

Foreground, this should be treated as a specimen plant and be given lots of room with nothing around it.

Propagation

This plant is a rhizome plant and can be propagated by using the division method. This simply means that the rhizome can be divided into smaller pieces and each of these will grow into new plants. When re-planting this, never totally bury the whole of the rhizome as this will cause it to rot. Leave the top 1/3 showing above the substrate.

Difficulty

Medium

Short Description

This plant gets its common name from the reddish colouration of its leaves that shine in the aquarium making it a great specimen plant. It does require a slow water movement in the tank as the stems are quite delicate and can easily be broken. The substrate must be full of nutrients to get a good growth rate but once they are established they should grow very quickly.