Monkey Tail

Monkey Tail (Limnophila sessiliflora) is a pretty and undemanding plant from South-East Asia. In its natural habitat, it is found on the edges of stagnant waters and the banks of rivers and rivulets

Stems grow fast up to 40 cm tall and become 3-4 cm wide. The plant often grows leggy in poor light, but this can be counteracted to some extent by stimulating growth with CO2 addition. Most beautiful when planted in groups. In good growing conditions it sends out runners and spreads across the bottom.

This plant is fine-leaved, light green with a reddish hue and grows quickly without much difficulty. It needs constant pruning to keep it in check and its stems are very brittle and break easily.

Ideal for newly assembled aquariums, due to its high development speed that will help to balance the aquarium avoiding excesses of toxic compounds accumulated due to the lack of nitrifying colonies, the fragility of the stems together with the great ease of re-growing from small fragments , they can make it a difficult species to handle if it is allowed to settle freely throughout the aquarium. It must be assigned a space and prune or challenge all the individuals that develop outside its destined area.

Balanced micronutrient fertilisation and the addition of iron is necessary for heathy growth. Lots of light and abundant micronutrients will result in a slightly reddish colouration of the shoot tips.

Monkey Tail makes an excellent pond plant.