mobile 471 Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 Some time ago I bought a Utricularia graminifolia for my fish tank, but unfortunately algae got the better of it. I managed to salvage a very small piece and washed off as much algae as possible before transfering it to a undrained container, where I now grow it as a semi aquatic. Here are the results... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seb81 0 Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 good work i like that Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebulon 8 Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 That's beautiful! Suddenly I want to get some U.graminifolia too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stefano 0 Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 (edited) Beautiful! Very neat, very lush Edited May 31, 2009 by Stefano Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimscott 42 Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Nice save! So it's treated essentially as an aquatic? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mobile 471 Posted May 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Nice save! So it's treated essentially as an aquatic? Pretty much but it's not always fully submerged. There's approximately 1cm between the tip of the leaves and the top of the pot. I add water to the level of the top of the pot but then wait until the leaves are partially out of the water before topping up again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimscott 42 Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Is there any media in there at all? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mobile 471 Posted May 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 (edited) The media is peat and horticultural grit. Edited May 31, 2009 by mobile Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martin Hingst 75 Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Pretty one, Carl and very nicely taken photos! Congrats Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LJ 0 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Very nice Carl - certainly looks like its enjoying those conditions Heather Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andreas Eils Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Well... ...looks like I should increase my water level.... Andreas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mobile 471 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 ...looks like I should increase my water level.... It seems to like being very wet. I initially grew it as a terrestrial and it didn't grow very fast and the leaf colour wasn't as vibrant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RL7836 21 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 (edited) Beautiful pics & plant - thanks for sharing. What temperatures do you keep the plant in & how deep is the container? How bright are your lights? Interestingly, even though the leaves stay underwater most of the time, the algae has not returned.... Edited June 3, 2009 by RL7836 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Martin Hingst 75 Posted June 4, 2009 Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) Hi Jim, if you grow it as an aquatic, you do not need any special media at all. At the moment it grows very well in the sponge filter of my aquarium - pure plastic And - it even flowers UNDER water ( if the water is too deep). Regards Martin Edited June 4, 2009 by Martin Hingst Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mobile 471 Posted June 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) What temperatures do you keep the plant in & how deep is the container? How bright are your lights? The plant is in a room where the temperature varies quite a bit throughout the year, there is no real temperature control as such. At the moment it's about 20°C but in winter is would get down to 10°C or maybe slightly less. The pot is 8cm deep so I guess the soil is about 6.5cm deep and the stolons have reached be bottom. It is about 50cm away from a window which doesn't receive direct sunlight and there is a 70W metal halide flood light about 1m above it. I'd say that the lighting intensity isn't particularly high as the metal halide floods an area of about 1m². Interestingly, even though the leaves stay underwater most of the time, the algae has not returned.... Initially when transferred the algae came back and formed a blanket on the surface of the leaves/water. I pulled it off occasionally but eventually it disappeared by itself. I guess that there are insufficient nutrients for the algae and I don't feed the plant. I read somewhere that algae need phosphates to flourish. it even flowers UNDER water ( if the water is too deep). Interesting to hear that it flowers underwater. A bit pointless as far as the plant is concerned I would have thought. Edited June 4, 2009 by mobile Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.