Troubleshooting
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' problems — and how to fix them
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' (Echinodorus 'Red Flame') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Loss of red colour
Low light and iron deficiency revert leaves to green. Raise lighting and dose iron heavily via root tabs and liquid iron.
Pale, translucent new leaves
Iron shortage in lean substrate. Increase root-tab iron and trace-element dosing.
Holey, melting old leaves
Potassium deficiency or normal turnover. Trim spent leaves and supplement potassium.
Submersion melt
Emersed-grown nursery leaves die back when planted; the crown survives and regrows red-toned submerged leaves in a few weeks.
Prevent echinodorus 'red flame' problems before they start
Most echinodorus 'red flame' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for echinodorus 'red flame' in general rather than its problems? Read the full echinodorus 'red flame' care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' problems — FAQ
Why is my echinodorus 'red flame' loss of red colour?
Low light and iron deficiency revert leaves to green. Raise lighting and dose iron heavily via root tabs and liquid iron.
Why is my echinodorus 'red flame' pale, translucent new leaves?
Iron shortage in lean substrate. Increase root-tab iron and trace-element dosing.
Why is my echinodorus 'red flame' holey, melting old leaves?
Potassium deficiency or normal turnover. Trim spent leaves and supplement potassium.
Why is my echinodorus 'red flame' submersion melt?
Emersed-grown nursery leaves die back when planted; the crown survives and regrows red-toned submerged leaves in a few weeks.