Echinodorus 'Ozelot'

Ozelot Sword Growing & Care Guide

Ozelot Sword is an incredibly striking hybrid sword plant famous for its bright olive-green leaves densely covered in gorgeous, deep reddish-black spots. Native to professional cultivation, this robust rosette is exceptionally easy to grow and makes a premier background focal point for medium and large aquariums.

Lighting Moderate Light

Water Hardness Aquatic (pH 6.0-7.8)

Substrate Nutrient-rich aquasoil / gravel

Water Temp 15°C - 30°C

Toxicity Pet Friendly (Non-toxic)

Botanical macro photography of Ozelot Sword (Echinodorus 'Ozelot') - Plant AI care database

How to Identify Ozelot Sword

Ozelot Sword (Echinodorus 'Ozelot') has key botanical markers. Recognizing these features is crucial for successful aquascaping and thriving growth.

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Visual Shape & Growth: Stately upright rosette of spotted, lanceolate leaves rising from a central crown.
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Leaf Morphology: Large, slightly wavy olive-green leaves covered in unique, dark reddish-black leopard-like spots.
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Root & Anchoring Structure: Extremely large, dense white root system designed to absorb massive substrate nutrients.

💡 Plant AI Tip: Take a photo with Plant AI to identify aquatic weeds and diagnose fungal spot diseases in 1 second.

Complete Cultivation & Spawning Guide

Follow our detailed scientific water parameters and care guides to keep your Ozelot Sword thriving.

pH: 6.0 - 7.8, GH: 4 - 15 dGH. Extremely resilient, adapting easily to soft or hard water conditions.

Low. Grows perfectly without CO2. Supplemental carbon can be added to support its massive leaf biomass.

Moderate to high. Strong light prevents bottom leaves from dropping and promotes compact leaf spacing.

Cut away dead or algae-covered leaves at the stem base. Cut the main rhizome into sections with a sterilized blade to propagate.

Heavy potassium feeder. If potassium is low, leaves will develop tiny pinholes and drop off. Dose potassium weekly.

Enjoys a deep, nutrient-rich substrate. Add root fertilizer tabs near the base every few months to support its massive root system.

Optimal temperature is 15°C to 30°C (59°F - 86°F). Sensitive to extremely cold water below 15°C.

Enjoys moderate current. Steady water flow delivers essential water column nutrients to its massive foliage layers.

Its tough, leathery leaves make it cichlid-resistant. Provides excellent cover for community fish and shrimp.

Broad leaf surfaces can gather green spot algae under high light. Keep phosphates balanced and employ Nerite snails.

Best planted in the background. Space individual stems at least 2 to 3 inches apart to accommodate their massive leaf spread.

Common Diseases & Treatment

Potassium Pinholes

Symptoms: Mature leaves develop tiny, dark-rimmed holes that grow larger, causing the leaf to drop.

Action: The definitive sign of potassium deficiency. Dose liquid potassium sulfate or comprehensive liquid fertilizer weekly.

Emersed to Submersed Transition Melt

Symptoms: Broad leaves turn brown and melt away shortly after planting.

Action: Caused by acclimating from emersed nursery growth. Prune melted leaves; new submersed lanceolate leaves will sprout soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Ozelot Sword losing its spots?

Spots fade under low light. Strong light and comprehensive liquid iron dosing are key to develop and maintain its iconic spotted leaf color.

Can I trim the leaves if they grow too long?

While you can trim them, cutting a leaf blade will cause the rest of the leaf to decay. It is best to prune the entire leaf from the crown base.

How do I plant Ozelot Sword correctly?

Dig a small hole in the gravel, place the roots in, and cover them. Then, gently pull the plant upward until the green crown base is visible.

How fast does it grow?

Under moderate light and nutrients, it is a moderate grower, typically producing one new leaf every 7 to 10 days.