Monthly Archives: February 2012

Bacopa salzmanii

  By robert | February 23, 2012 - 2:09 pm | Aquarium Plants
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by Robert Paul Hudson

Bacopa salzmanii is found growing from Mexico to Brazil along the edges of ponds and slow moving streams, usually in muddy loam. It was first known in the hobby as Bacopa lilacina. It looks very much like the more common Bacopa caroliniana of North America, except the leaves and stems are much smaller. Sometimes the leaves show a bit of red along the center vein of the leaf, but it is mostly green. It is not too light demanding and is suitable for low tech set ups. Side shoots grow profusely and are easy to propagate.

This plant is also easy to grow out of the water in wet soil. Some hobbyists are growing it this way in order to create available stock for them to sell and trade on the internet. It is also occasionally imported from Asian plant farms. Bacopa salzmanii is not particularly sensitive to grow or ship and can be easily enjoyed by hobbyists in any planted aquarium.

Ludwigia sedoides: Mosaic Floater

  By robert | February 23, 2012 - 11:22 am | Aquarium Plants
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Ludwigia sedioides

by Robert Paul Hudson

Ludwigia sedioides is a branching floating stem plant whose leaves grow in a circular pattern with shades of red and green looking like a mosaic tile. It is found growing in slow moving and standing waters of Brazil and Venezuela. It is typically used as a ornamental plant in ponds and the long floating stems can cover a large surface area. One stem in the aquarium can quickly cover the surface of the water and the roots grow quite long, but some hobbyists have found a use for it in open top aquariums. It will not survive cold winters outside.

Light should be fairly bright to encourage red coloring and fertilizer should be added to the water regularly. It produces two inch solid yellow flowers that are striking against the foliage and bloom in late summer and early fall. In ponds it should be placed under full sun or partial shade.

 

 

 

Phyllanthus fluitans, Red Rooter

  By robert | February 23, 2012 - 3:04 am | Aquarium Plants
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by Robert Paul Hudson

Phyllanthus fluitans. known as Red Rooter, is a beautiful small floating plant. The leaves range in different shades of red and green while the dangling roots are deep dark red. It is native to parts of South America, Central America, and Mexico.  Like most floating plants, it spreads fairly quickly on the surface of still or slow moving water. It usually grows under direct sunlight where older leaves become dark red. Under lower levels of light the leaves are more green with pinkish hues. The leaves are a little smaller than a dime and produce small white star shaped flowers with yellow centers.

In the aquarium the dark red roots add some color to the underwater surface and a hiding place for fish and fry. In ponds they leaves are highly decorative but will not survive the winter temperatures. Light should be moderate to bright, but being close to the light source makes it less critical. All floating plants if allowed to cover the surface will block light to plants below. They will need to be occasionally thinned out or the use of a power head will push the plants to the back edges of the aquarium.

In 2010 the plant was discovered growing in several colonies along a river in Florida. The state has already declared it an invasive plant and taken steps to eradicate it and sent out warning notices to nurseries in the state. This is a bit perplexing because no commercial grower, nursery, or retailer in the state sells , grows, or imports this plant, so the blame is directed to the hobbyist.  The plant is traded and sold between a small group of hobbyists nationwide and occasionally put up for sale by hobbyists on the internet. It has not been discovered growing anywhere else in the United States.

Some hobbyists have reported this as a difficult plant to grow, but as long as you fertilize the water regularly and give it fairly bright light, it stays healthy without any issues.

How do you keep small stems planted?

  By robert | February 6, 2012 - 8:42 pm | Aquarium Plants
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by Robert Paul Hudson

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to plant stems in the substrate and keeping them there without popping up and floating to the water surface,  particularly when working with stems that are very thin, or very short.  The Plant N Place Plant Anchors make it much easier. These disks are a very soft, pliable plastic that does not float in water.  The disks have a scored X that you simply cut with a knife. You then push the stems through to the other side through the middle of the X which then gently but firmly holds the stem in place without cutting into even the most delicate stem.  You bury the disk and you are done! This plastic is of course non toxic and completely safe.

This is a tiny stem of Rotala “true indica” someone sent me that is barely an inch long.  I tried planting them as is and could never keep them in place. I thought the stems would be too small even for these plant anchors, but it works just fine!

It held these three thin stems of Rotala ‘Bangladesh’ just fine too. In fact there is no real limit on the number of stems it can hold, and even plants with very thick stems like Ammania.

Carpet foreground plants also present a challenge. One answer may be purchasing some of these plants growing on a fiber mat. Florida Aquatic Nurseries is now offering Hemianthus callitrichoides, (dwarf baby tears), Glossostigma, and Eleocharis acicularis, (Dwarf Hairgrass) growing on natural coco fiber mats, in two sizes: 3 x 5 and 10 x 10 inches. The mats can be easily cut into small plugs or planted as is for an instant foreground.

These are tools that help to make life easier. There are other types of plant anchors or weights out there as well, and I am sure someone with a little imagination might create something new of their own.

 

Rotala nanjenshan

  By robert | February 4, 2012 - 7:42 am | Aquarium Plants
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by Robert Paul Hudson

 

How many yellow aquarium plants can you name? Yellow/light green plants really stand out surrounded by dark greens and reds, bringing a sense of vibrant energy to the aquascape. One of my favorites is Rotala nanjenshan

Also known as Mayaca sellowiana, (erroneously), this delicate looking plant is actually quite hardy for a stem plant. As long as it gets adequate light it grows easily in a wide range of water parameters. The leaves are needle like and grow in thick clusters. The stems and leaves are so thin that when out of the water the plant looks like a wet piece of ratty yarn! I have known people to immediately throw it away when recieving it mail order thinking the plant is in horrible shape! Placed in water its true appearance becomes immediate.

Co2 will make this plant grow much faster and the leaves longer and more dense. The stems are thin enough that when cut, new growth from the cut stems matches in size and density, so you can allow the cut stems to continue to grow like a shrub. Other plants that have thick stems produce new growth with stems that are much thinner with wider gaps between the leaves-not the case here!

Rotala rotundifolia

  By robert | February 4, 2012 - 7:28 am | Aquarium Plants
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ROTALA ROTUNDIFOLIA

Hardiness: Easy

 

Light Needs: Medium

 

Plant Structure: Stem

 

Family: Lythraceae

 

Genus: Rotala

 

Region: Asia

 

Location: Southeast Asia

 

Size: Individual stem width: 1.5-2cm (0.75-1in)

 

Growth Rate: Fast

 

Care: Although this plant will grow under moderate light, more intensive light will promote darker shades of red in this plant. It makes a strong visual impact planted in tight groups in the middle or rear of the aquarium and the stems will branch profusely when cut. Nutrients also play a role in this plant’s coloration. High phosphate and iron levels along with low nitrate levels will help induce more coloring.

 


												
 
									
				

	

	
	

				
					
	

		
	
				

					
Making of a Star: Pogostemon helferi

				

						

				  By  robert |  February 4, 2012  - 7:01 am |    Aquarium Plants   							

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by Robert Paul Hudson




Pogostemon helferi was discovered in Thailand where it was given the name “dao noi” which means “little star”. Some how the Thai name has been represented by the word downoi to look like an English word instead of translating the meaning of the word.


 


P. helferi is a plant that goes thru a drastic transformation, no less remarkable than a caterpillar morphing to a butterfly. In shallow, muddy wetlands, it grows long stems with tiny almond shaped leaves. When submersed underwater, each small leaf turns into a four or five point star. Roots form at the base. Under intense light in the aquarium, each star grows larger but retains its shape. Under lower light levels a stem forms in the center of the star and grows toward the water surface and above, reverting back to its prior form.




It also appears to grow in fast moving rivers according to a video shot by Tropica.  In this video the plant is growing attached to rock both above water and below water keeping its underwater form in both cases.


 


Both growth forms have recently become commercially available. The emergent growth form is usually potted. Either lay the stems horizontal across the substrate or plant the stems upright. It will take about thirty days or less depending on the light intensity for the metamorphosis to begin. Once the stars have formed, cut each off the stems and plant in rows or groups in the substrate. Make sure they are positioned in an open area that is not over shadowed by other plants.




The submersed growth form may be purchased either potted or bare root, and is usually branched with multiple stars, or growing partially upright and branched. Each star may be removed and planted. Sometimes you may find only one or two stars in a pot that are somewhat grown out.


 


It appears to do just as well in hard water as soft water, and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Other than light, the only other important issue is having a fertile substrate. I would add a fertilizer tablet in the gravel under each plant when first planting. Supplemental C02 will help to speed up growth, but only if the light is adequate.


 

												
 
									
				

	

	
	

				
					
	

		
	
				

					
Golden Melon Sword- a new hybrid

				

						

				  By  robert |  February 1, 2012  - 4:28 am |    Aquarium Plants   							

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By Robert Paul Hudson




The Golden Melon Sword is a new hybrid from Florida Aquatic Nurseries, Echinodorus osiris ‘Florida golden’.  The leaves have a soft, yellow green color that is somewhat translucent.  It grows fairly large and need room to spread its leaves.  The oval shape of the leaves can have somewhat ruffled edges. Moderate light or better and a nutrient rich substrate is all this beautiful plant needs to flourish in the aquarium.


Available in the USA from retailers local and online.