Plant Profile

Reaching a manageable size compared to its larger relative Echinodorus Big Bear, Echinodorus Small Bear is a desirable hybrid sword plant prized for its compact habit and rich leaf coloration. As new foliage unfurls near the center of the rosette, it displays deep rusty-red, dark burgundy, and copper-brown hues before maturing into a rich, dark olive green. Capping out around 12 inches tall, its moderate proportions make it a standout pick for midground zones or an attractive background anchor in smaller aquariums. Naturally hardy and forgiving across a wide range of water parameters, it offers aquascapers a striking contrast of warm colors without requiring delicate, high-maintenance care.

Tissue culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab-grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go-to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.

Key Features & Notes

• Compact growth habit allows it to fit seamlessly into midground or smaller background zones.
• Striking foliage transitions from deep rusty red and dark burgundy on new growth to dark olive green as it matures.
• Hardy rosette plant that delivers bold color contrast and lush coverage without demanding delicate high-tech care.

Care & Planting Instructions

• Prep the plant by carefully removing the plantlets from the cup and rinsing away all sterile nutrient gel under lukewarm, dechlorinated water before mounting.
• Plant the roots deeply into your aquarium soil, keeping the central crown resting just above the substrate line to prevent rot.
• All Echinodorus are heavy root feeders that rely on rich substrate nutrition; placing root tabs near the base supports steady, healthy leaf development.
• Provide moderate to high lighting; while CO2 injection isn't strictly required, good lighting will enhance its reddish-brown colors. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
• Maintain stable water parameters to prevent leaf shedding during the initial transition period.
• Sword plants propagate through side shoots off of their leaves, which can be trimmed and replanted into the substrate. To control the size of your sword plant, you can remove the side shoots and older leaves.

Quick Facts

Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does Echinodorus 'Small Bear' differ from Echinodorus 'Big Bear'?

Echinodorus 'Small Bear' is a much more compact cultivar, topping out around 6 to 12 inches compared to 'Big Bear', which easily exceeds 16 to 20+ inches. This makes 'Small Bear' far better suited for midground placement in standard aquariums without overwhelming neighboring plants.

2. How do I maintain and enhance the dark burgundy leaf color on Echinodorus 'Small Bear'?

Provide moderate-to-high lighting directly over the rosette and place nutrient-rich root tabs near the root base. Higher light levels and consistent iron supplementation encourage newly emerging leaves to develop deep burgundy and rusty-red tones rather than turning solid green.

3. How do I prep and divide tissue culture portions of Echinodorus 'Small Bear'?

Gently remove the plant mass from the cup and rinse away the clear gel under room-temperature water. Using your fingers, separate the cluster into small individual plantlets and plant their roots deeply into the soil with pinsettes, making sure the leaf crown remains resting just above the substrate level.