29 replies to this topic

[gardenofeden]

usually not, unless you tapwater is very soft (acid, low pH)

[Nat22]

gardenofeden, on 01 September 2012 - 18:11 PM, said:

usually not, unless you tapwater is very soft (acid, low pH)

According to yorkshire water's website the water in my area has a PH level of 7.44 so i'm guessing this is no good?

[Marlon]

You could better use rain water or distilled water or reverse osmose water.

[carni grower]

you could allso use de-ionised water, i usually get mine from hallfords but its cheaper at tescos and sainsburys at the moment both shops sell carplan de-ionised water. Only thing is it would get expensive if your collection gets big. you should be able to find a fish shop that sells reverse osmosis which would be alot cheaper than buying de-ionised water but with only 3 plants de-ionised is fine because you won't need much water. Of course the cheapest would be to collect rain water.

[Nat22]

I've bought some de-ionised water to put me on until I can collect some rain water. Thanks for all your advice :)

[carni grower]

Nat22, on 06 September 2012 - 10:56 AM, said:

I've bought some de-ionised water to put me on until I can collect some rain water. Thanks for all your advice :)

Your welcome, hope all goes well for you know.

[cookie0117]

I also brought a pot with several madagascariensis in, they started dying back after they arrived much like yours are.  Mine proceeded to die all the way up and fall and shrivel.  It was quite concerning for a week or so, then they shot back up from the bottom.  I cut off the dead stalks close to the ground and not only did each stem come back but several plantlets also sprung up from the base.  I left them be for a month or 2 but then succumb to the urge and repotted each of the main stems and plantlets.

I have 15 plants now, a few are dying back after the move but im very confident that these too will come back just as strong.

I get the impression these plants are survivors!!

[Dave Evans]

The plant in qeustion should probably only recieve rain or distilled water.  Also, it probably wants more light.  When the lighting level is correct, the new growth will be green with red highlights.

Edited by Dave Evans, 13 September 2012 - 22:54 PM.

[Nat22]

Dave Evans, on 13 September 2012 - 22:54 PM, said:

The plant in qeustion should probably only recieve rain or distilled water.  Also, it probably wants more light.  When the lighting level is correct, the new growth will be green with red highlights.

I have purchased de-ionised water and all seems well so far, i am collecting rain water for when this has ran out but we haven't really had much. The new growth has always been green with red highlights so I think they should be getting enough light from the lamp they are currently under. Fingers crossed the problems were simply down to the journey in the post and the change in environment :)

[hddk]

cookie0117, on 11 September 2012 - 10:25 AM, said:

I cut off the dead stalks close to the ground and not only did each stem come back but several plantlets also sprung up from the base.  I left them be for a month or 2 but then succumb to the urge and repotted each of the main stems and plantlets.

I do this regularly, when plant has 20-30 cm. Usually top 7-10 cm is living and rest of stem and leaves are brown. I cut the top, stick it into peat and it roots very easily. I cut dead stem close to the ground and as you wrote, there are always 1-3 new plantlets. My highest D. madagascariensis looked like this (I know, it had too low light):