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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V4 #211
>From: "M.G." <msg at laol_net>
>Subject: ID Local Plant
>
>Hello again-
>
>A few days ago I inquired about help to id some plants I pulled from a
>local marsh. I want to thank EVERYONE who replied. A few people even
>offered to set up a temporary site to house the pictures. If anyone would
>like to try and id them they can be seen here:
>
>http://www.aquaticlounge.aquariumplants.cx/Misc.html
>
>Please contact me if you have any thoughts you would like to share.
>
>Thanks also to all those who gave helpful tips in preparing the plants for
>introduction to my tank.
I got a look at the pictures at the temporary website. The plant is very
common, here, too in Central Mississippi. it grows floating on the surface
and never seems to have any submersed leaves. it does not look like a good
candidate for submersed growth, although I have never tried it. It maght
be a large species of Ludwigia. There is a smaller species of Ludwigia
that is everywhere, which looks like L. repens. It does grow well
underwater. I think I have also seen a little Ludwigia glandulosa around.
Next time I see some, I am going to get it and try groing that submersed.
First, of course, it will get a bleach treatment.
>Subject: More on tiny leaves
I had the tiny leaf syndrome on some Rotala rotundifolia, and I had a
suspicion that the tiny leaves in Rotala species might relate in some way
to an excess of nutrients. I said that I was going to try groing Rotala
with Ceratopteris where the function of the Ceratopteris was mainly to get
N and P down to low levels. I have done that, and, sure enough, as the
Ceratopteris began to show N deficiency, the R. rotundifolia began to look
better and better. It is now producing normal leaves at all growing tips,
and looking very healthy.
I changed the water in the tank with rain water, added micronutrients, a
large shot of chelated iron, a couple of teaspoons of ground limestone, and
a big shot potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate. Thus, the plants have
an excess of micronutrients, iron, calcium, potassium, sulfur, and
magnesium. the only two nutrients not supplied are nitrogen and
phosphorus. Previously, when the Rotala was suffering from tiny leaf
syndrome, the tank had all the above nutrients plus lots of N and P.
Paul Krombholz, in central Mississippi, expecting more needed rain,
starting tomorrow.