{"product_id":"jungle-vallisneria-vallisneria-americana","title":"Jungle Vallisneria  | Vallisneria americana","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c!-- obsidian --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Jungle Vallisneria on the Surface:\"\u003eJungle Vallisneria on the Surface:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJungle Vallisneria (\u003cem\u003eVallisneria americana\u003c\/em\u003e) is a rooted aquatic plant native to the lakes, rivers, and near-stagnant streams of eastern North America. It spreads via runners across the substrate and sends up long, ribbon-shaped leaves that can reach up to three feet. In the Botanical Method Aquarium, it grows up through the leaf litter and provides cover and grazing surfaces for shrimp and fish along the back of larger aquariums. Our favorite way to use them is with a dense leaf litter bed to help replicate a slow-moving stream, allowing Jungle Vallisneria to spread throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Essential Details\"\u003eEssential Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rooted, spreads via runners\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to Medium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCO2:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not Necessary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Runners\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTint Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to High\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabitat Location:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eastern North America\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOptimal For:\u003c\/strong\u003e Betta fish, shrimp, rasboras, and small tetras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse with Caution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rinse before introducing; may carry beneficial hitchhiking snails, snail eggs, or duckweed from the grow-out ponds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 to 3 feet at maturity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuantities:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 V. \u003cem\u003eamericana \u003c\/em\u003eplants per pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Jungle Vallisneria for Planted Aquariums \u0026amp; Blackwater Biotopes\"\u003eJungle Vallisneria for Planted Aquariums \u0026amp; Blackwater Biotopes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJungle Vallisneria absorbs most of its micro- and macronutrients through its roots, so it grows well in either a dirted aquarium or an inert sand substrate. We plant it between the leaf litter and let the runners creep among the botanicals, where new plantlets root into this perpetual substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe darker the tint in your aquarium, the less light that will reach your plants, and light dictates how quickly Vallisneria will grow. Jungle Vallisneria tolerates murky, detritus-rich water in the wild, and its leaves reach toward the surface to find light in a heavily tinted aquarium. We like to use root tabs in an inert sand substrate to keep nutrients available at the roots. Aquasoils absorb tannins from the water column, so an inert substrate keeps the tint your botanicals release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRunners extend from the base of the mother plant and root new plantlets as they creep, and the leaves can grow up to three feet long. We choose it for larger aquariums and trim leaves with scissors if we want them to stop short of the surface. To keep open swimming space for bettas, rasboras, and small tetras, we thin plantlets by slowly lifting them out of the substrate, which keeps clouds of dirt out of the water column. Biofilm encrusts the leaves, which provides shrimp a grazing surface. Excess plants go to the compost, and we never release aquarium plants into local waterways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Beneath the Leaves: *Vallisneria americana* in the Wild\"\u003eBeneath the Leaves: \u003cem\u003eVallisneria americana\u003c\/em\u003e in the Wild\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eVallisneria americana\u003c\/em\u003e grows in lakes, rivers, springs, and slow streams across eastern North America, in fresh water and in the slightly brackish reaches of tidal rivers. Its runners root into the sediment, and its leaves grow in clusters from a white base. Turtles, manatees, fish, insects, and snails graze on it. Waterfowl rely on its buds and roots during their winter migration, and the canvasback duck (\u003cem\u003eAythya valisineria\u003c\/em\u003e) even carries the plant's genus in its name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere a botanical contributes as it breaks down, an aquatic plant is living and contributes as it grows. So let them grow. Mother Nature leads the way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-heading=\"Sustainability Note:\"\u003eSustainability Note:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease select a heat\/cold pack if necessary. Check your local weather before ordering to avoid any shipment holds or cancellations. All Plants may contain snails or snail eggs. We keep them in all of our aquariums for the benefits they provide. Our blackwater aquarium plants are provided in cooperation with PNW Bettas in adherence to their Shipping and DOA Policies. Your curated selection will arrive in their packaging separate from your botanical, wood \u0026amp; merch orders.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PNW Bettas","offers":[{"title":"Potted","offer_id":45619896254640,"sku":"sku-45937812340915","price":7.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0598\/7948\/9712\/files\/Vallisneria-americana-Blackwater-Aquarium-Plants.jpg?v=1756077390","url":"https:\/\/bettabotanicals.com\/products\/jungle-vallisneria-vallisneria-americana","provider":"Betta Botanicals | Natural Aquarium Products","version":"1.0","type":"link"}