Lagenandra Ovata Vitro Culture (Malayan Sword)

Not a sword at all. Lagenandra ovata is an aroid — a relative of Cryptocoryne rather than Echinodorus — sold under the trade name Malayan Sword. Broad, ovate leaves running deep green to reddish-brown on a thick creeping rhizome. This is the sterile Vitro Culture® format.

What You'll Receive

• Sold As: Tissue culture plants in a vitamin-enriched liquid gel medium.
• Size: Approx. 4 inches. Each culture yields approximately 3-4 young plants.
• Benefits: 100% free from snails, algae, pathogens, and bacteria, with an extended shelf life.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Malayan Sword
• Scientific name — Lagenandra ovata
• Family — Araceae, the same family as Cryptocoryne and Anubias
• Origin — Sri Lanka and southern India
• Placement — Background
• Shipped size — Approx. 3-4 tissue-cultured plants, roughly 1-3 inches
• Mature height — 12-20 inches
• Suits — 40 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 72-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — plant the rhizome in nutrient-rich substrate with root tabs. It is not an epiphyte and should not be tied to hardscape.
• Growth habit — Amphibious; also grows emersed in high humidity
• Propagation — Rhizome division

Grower's Notes

• Treat it like a big Cryptocoryne, not like a sword. Despite the trade name, this is an aroid with a creeping rhizome. It melts on a change of conditions the way crypts do, rebuilds from the rhizome, and resents being moved — none of which is true of an Echinodorus.
• Expect melt after planting. Tissue culture plants convert from emersed to submersed growth and shed their first leaves doing it. Leave the rhizome undisturbed and new leaves follow.
• Rinse every trace of gel off, separate the plants, then set each rhizome shallowly in the substrate — roots down, growing points clear.
• Three or four small plants is not a background. At a Slow growth rate reaching 12-20 inches, this is a multi-year proposition. The Vitro Culture format buys you cleanliness and price, not size.
• Color follows light. Deep green in shade, reddish-brown under stronger light — both healthy.

Prefer an established plant? See Lagenandra Ovata (Malayan Sword) as bare-root, bunched or potted.

Notes

• Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.