Corkscrew Val

Care Level: Easy

Lighting: Medium

Origin: All Tropics and Sub Tropics

Maximum Size: 24+"

DH of Water: 4-18

Temperature: 65-85 F

Nutrient Demand: Low

Substrate Preference: Any gravel or dirt will do

Propagation: Runners

PH: 6-7.5

KH: 4-12

Placement: Midground-Background

Corckscrew val is a fairly popular version of jungle val. This plant is actually not a specific species of plant but instead a version of Vallisneria Americana and Vallisneria Spiralis, though often sold as just Vallisneria Spiralis. 

Corkscrew val is an amazing looking plant it's a grass like plant with leaves like that of jungle val with one main difference, they twist forming a corkscrew shape. This plant also tends to be a little lighter green than jungle val. This plant, because it's a Vallisneria has relatively low requirements. These plants will maintain itself in low light but will only grow and prosper in medium light. It will grow in any substrate provided a source of fertilizer (ie dirt, flourite, liquid, root tabs, etc). This plant often has reactions to liquid carbon (ie flourish excel). This plant readily uses the carbon from bicarbonates (as opposed to carbon dioxide), making this plant do great in harder water, even brackish with low salt levels. For all these reasons this plant is quite attractive to aquarium hobbyist.

As rooting plant, corkscrew val will need to be planted. However, as with most plants one must not bury the crown of this plant or it will melt away. It will produce daughter plants by runners, these baby plants can be left attached to form a carpet of plants or can be separated and re-planted. One should wait to separate the baby until it has developed roots and leaves. The height of this plant is widely debated, some say only 15" and others say 40+", it depends mainly on the type of species. Most people use this plant either as an accent in the mid ground or in smaller aquariums as a background plant.

Corkscrew Val can be a very unique addition to an aquarium.