Golden Nesaea (Nesaea pedicellata) - Bunch

Golden Nesaea (Nesaea pedicellata 'Golden', now also listed as Ammannia pedicellata) is a warm-colored stem plant that brings gold, yellow-green and soft orange into a planted tank without going full red. Long pointed leaves sit in pairs along bright red stems, and the contrast is what makes it stand out against the usual wall of green. It is not a hard plant, but it does want real light and some iron to hold its color, so we rate it intermediate. Browse the rest of our live freshwater plants to build around it.

Care Guide

• Light: moderate to high. In dim tanks the gold fades toward plain green and the stems stretch with wide gaps between leaf pairs.
• CO2: helpful but not required. It grows in a low tech tank with good light, just more slowly, and CO2 brings out the richest color.
• Fertilizer: color depends on iron and a steady supply of nutrients. Dose Seachem Flourish for the water column and add Seachem Flourish Iron if new growth looks pale.
• Water: 72 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5. It does best in soft to moderately hard water.
• Remove the lead weight before planting. This bunch is held together with a lead strip. Unwrap it, separate the stems, and push each one about 2 inches into the substrate. Left on, the lead crushes the stems and they rot at the base.
• Trim and replant the tops. Once a stem nears the surface, cut the top few inches and replant them. The cut stem will branch, which is how you build a thick stand.

Specifications

Placement and Companions

Where it goes: in groups of at least five stems toward the back of tanks 20 gallons and up. One stem on its own looks thin. A tight group reads as a block of color.

Color partners: set it beside a deep red such as Dark Red Ludwigia or Ludwigia Super Red Mini for a warm gradient, or against bright green Water Wisteria so the gold really shows.

Fish and invertebrates: safe with shrimp, snails and community fish. Goldfish and large cichlids will uproot or eat it.

Recommended Supplies

• Seachem Flourish Iron: iron is what keeps the gold and orange from washing out.
• Seachem Flourish: comprehensive water column fertilizer.
• Seachem Flourish Tabs: root tabs for inert gravel or sand.
• CaribSea Eco-Complete: a nutrient-rich substrate for stem plants.
• Ludwigia Super Red Mini: a red stem plant to pair with it.

FAQ

Why is my Golden Nesaea turning green?
Not enough light, not enough iron, or both. Raise the light first, then add an iron supplement. New growth will come in gold again, but leaves that already turned green usually stay that way.

Do I need CO2?
No. It grows without CO2 in a tank with decent light and regular fertilizer. CO2 makes it faster and more colorful, but it is optional.

What do I do with the lead strip?
Take it off before planting. Separate the stems and plant each one individually so the bases do not get crushed and rot.

Is Nesaea the same as Ammannia?
Botanists have moved Nesaea pedicellata into the genus Ammannia, so you will see both names on the same plant. The golden form sold in the hobby is the same plant either way.