The Jungle Val is the best choice for those who need a low-maintenance houseplant. Unlike Ludwigia Repens, it comes with large shiny dark-green leaves and has a bushy appearance.
Jungle Val dense foliage provides good cover for your pets to play and hide. The Jungle Val requires little care as it is very tolerant of almost any conditions you can throw its way.
Table of Contents
Appearance
The leaves of this plant are large, broad, and oval-shaped. The stalk is reddish-brown in color and holds the leaf about one foot off the ground.
It has a sleek look that works well with most aquariums. It currently comes in four colours: red, orange, green, and blue, which makes it easy to find one that fits your aquarium's colour scheme.
Location
Keep the plant in high light near an aquarium heater or bright lights, but not directly under them. It likes to stay humid and moist, so you will need to mist it regularly with room-temperature water.
The temperature of its surroundings should be at least. It can grow indoor or outdoor, but only in the summer.
Size And Growth Rate
The Jungle Val does not grow very large. It will generally only reach about 2 feet in height with a width similar to that of an Acropora Coral (thicker at the base and thinner near the ends).
Each plant is composed of many stems, each with several leaves radiating out towards their tips; this allows for a very natural look that works well with most aquariums.
Steps To Plant Jungle Val
- Get rid of the plastic pot that comes with your Jungle Val. Plastic pots are attractive initially but can be inadequate for proper root growth over time. To remove the plastic pot, place a hand on either side of it and then rock back and forth until it pops off.
- Place your Jungle Val in well-draining potting soil. Use a substrate that is more on the acidic side, as outlined above, and add sand or perlite for added aeration.
- You may place your Jungle Val in its new pot either top-side up or bottom-side up. Either way works fine; however, we recommend placing it upsidedown (top-side down) so that the old stem with a leaf node will be exposed.
- Water the Jungle Val thoroughly until water runs from its pot's drain holes, ensuring that all soil is thoroughly moistened. After watering, place your plant in bright light conditions either in direct sunlight or near a window that receives indirect sunlight or diffuse natural light.
Reproduction
In order to reproduce, cut off a leaf from its stem at the node where you want your new plant to grow, then place the leaf in a container with rainwater or distilled water for 1 day. Once you place it back in your aquarium, the new plant should grow within 1-2 weeks.
What are The Conditions Required For Jungle Val?
To maximize your enjoyment of the Jungle Val, follow the guidelines below for planting and care.
Ideal Aquatic State for Jungle val
The Jungle Val is a hardy plant that can be kept in a wide range of aquatic conditions.
It thrives best when the temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees, but it will also grow well at temperatures as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit or as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as the substrate maintains a pH level that is slightly acidic (between 6 and 8), you can expect your Jungle Val to flourish.
If your substrate tends toward the alkaline side, you can lower its pH level by adding a spoonful of peat moss or black water extract directly into the tank.
If it tends toward the acidic side, add a spoonful of powdered limestone or crushed coral into your substrate. Additionally, ensure that there is no plant or decoration near your Jungle Val that could obstruct its growth, as this can stunt the size of your plant's leaves.
Ensure that there are no large pieces of gravel in the substrate as these can injure your Val.
Lighting Environment
Like most indoor plants, this Jungle Val thrives best under bright lighting conditions, such as those you find in a well-lit room or near a window that receives lots of natural light.
However, placing it too close to a window may cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Tropical vals require strong light that is direct or indirect. They love high-intensity lighting but will burn if exposed to extremely bright light for too intense the light, the faster your plant will grow.
But be careful! If you introduce too much light to your tank, you can burn your plants, and algae will start growing everywhere!
Water Conditions
The Jungle Val can tolerate almost any watering conditions, so you won't have to worry about over-watering this plant. As long as the plant is placed in bright light conditions, it will get all the water it needs from normal household humidity and rainfall.
Fertilizer Conditions
The Jungle Val is a very hardy plant, so that it will require little to no fertilizer. You can fertilize your Jungle Val around once every two months by using an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer at the lowest dosage recommended for houseplants.
Alternatively, you can fertilize your plant by dusting the top of its soil with a calcium-based, low-nitrogen, 12-12-12 fertilizer.
Potting Soil Environment
The Jungle Val does best in soil that is very well aerated to allow for maximum drainage. You can use any combination of sand and peat moss as a good potting soil mix.
If you need extra drainage, add perlite or coarse sand to your potting mix.
Propagation Environment
Propagating the Jungle Val is easy and will help increase your plant's growth rate. A new stem can grow from a leaf node on the stem of the original Jungle Val plant.
When propagating this way, be sure to remove the leaf from the stem of the original Jungle Val, as this will reduce any loss of energy from the plant.
Substrate State
The Jungle Val can grow on almost any substrate. However, if you want to maximize your plant's growth and health, it is best to use well-draining potting soil that contains perlite or sand for better aeration. It is also important to note that the substrate should be more on the acidic side.
Temperature Requirements
The Jungle Val is an incredibly easy plant to care for. It requires very little maintenance and will flourish in almost any water condition.
The Jungle Val can tolerate a broad range of temperature conditions, but it thrives best in average household temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant can also withstand low-temperature stress better than any other houseplant.
It is particularly happy when the temperature of its surroundings is at least. If you are keeping it in your aquarium, be sure to keep it away from direct contact with the heater and other electronic devices, as they can burn the leaves of your plant.
Tank Requirements
The Jungle Val Plant can adapt to almost any water condition, including poor or dirty water with low levels of salt. However, it does require some special care if you are keeping it in your aquarium.
If placed within the tank, this plant will benefit from being kept in an area that receives good lighting and has a constant supply of water.
Tank Size
The Jungle Val can be kept in a tank of up to 200 gallons with little difference in its growth rate.
Tank Mates
Most of the fish that are kept in the same tank with the Jungle Val will not harm its roots. However, some plants like Elodea (an aquatic plant), Sagittaria (an aquatic plant) or hornwort often get too long and can become tangled in your Val's leaves. If this happens, remove these plants.
Feeding Requirements
Jungle Vals do not require any special feeding and will flourish on the normal fish food that you provide for your other aquatic pets.
Watering
To water this plant, place it in a container with rainwater or distilled water for 1 hour twice a week to allow the chlorine to evaporate out of the water. However, if you are keeping this plant in your aquarium, mist it regularly with room-temperature water to avoid damaging its leaves.
Benefits of Keeping Jungle Val in your Aquarium
The Jungle Val Plant is an attractive addition to any aquarium. They are able to survive in almost any water condition and will generally only grow about 2 feet in height (with a width similar to that of an Acropora Coral).
Unlike many vals, this plant does not contain stinging hairs or sharp edges, which make it safe for fish and coral alike. It also does not require any special maintenance and will flourish in almost any water conditions (though it does like to be moist).
Coral-safe & Fish-safe
One of the biggest benefits of having this plant in your tank is that it will act as both a hiding place for your fish and a beautiful decoration for your aquarium. It will provide shelter for your fish and also attract the attention of other marine life.
It is common to find shrimps, crabs, starfish, and even herbivorous fish like tangs grazing on these plants in an aquarium. However, do note that this plant is not meant to be fed to saltwater livestock, so it should be taken out of the tank before trying to feed them.
Beneficial To Other Plants & Animals In The Tank
This plant is a great addition to any aquarium because it will not obstruct the view of your tank. Since it contains no stinging hairs or sharp edges, it won't bother other plants and animals in your tank. In fact, some people even keep this plant in their aquarium to provide shade for other corals.
Shelter to Fish
It also provides shelter for fish and helps to improve the health of your tank by creating a micro-habitat for animals. This allows small animals like shrimps, crabs, starfish, and molluscs to hide away from predators and gives your fish a place to rest.
Trimming And Pruning
This Jungle Val doesn't require much pruning, but if it grows too tall, you can prune its stem to maintain a height of around 1m. To do so, remove the leaf from the place where you want your new stem to grow and then use a sharp knife or blade to cut through the old stem.
Cautions & Bugs
Although the Jungle Val is resistant to most insects, it is not overly tolerant of colder climates. If you keep your plant indoors for winter, be sure to cut back on watering by about 50% as it will need less water during the colder months.
Pest Problems
The Jungle Val is generally pest-resistant, but it can still become infested with spider mites or mealybugs. If you see either of these insects on your plant, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove the pests by wiping the underside of each leaf. Resistant Species
The Jungle Val can be grown indoors and outdoors with little difference in its growth rate.
Conclusion
The Baby Jungle Val is an incredibly easy plant to care for. You do not need any special equipment such as lights, pumps, and filters to grow this plant.
It can thrive in almost any water condition and will generally only grow about 1 foot in height (with a width similar to that of an Acropora Coral). The Jungle Val is an extremely healthy and hardy plant.
When choosing a location for your Jungle Val Plant, make sure there is plenty of space (at least one inch between it and any other plant or piece of décor). This plant can grow very quickly and will need at least 4 to 6 inches of space per inch of stem width.
If you are keeping it in your aquarium, be sure to keep it away from direct contact with heaters and other electronic devices, as they can burn the leaves of your plant.
This plant is toxic to fish, so be sure to keep it out of the reach of your pets!
