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Re: Emerging aquatics
A bit late on this one...
I attach Anubias (and Java ferns) to driftwood and move them in and out of
water all the time to prevent algae from getting a decent hold of the long
lived leaves. The plants also grow much faster cycled in this fashion with
the exposure to air. There again, I live in South Florida, where the humidity
is about 1% less than in a typical aquarium.
Now, in the winter the humidity does dip a bit and then I keep them (and
swords) in one of those clear Sterlite containers in standing water with a
plexi top. I grow Crypts using this method all year.
I've found the best way to adjust a submerged plant to emerged growth is to
place the desired plant in this situation and gradually remove said plexi top
over the course of a month or two. Of course, different species take
differing amounts of time to adjust.
Outside, I grow emerged; E. cord., "apart", latifolia, quadricostatus,
"micro" and regular tennelus and now paraflorus - no problem.
I also have growing emerged Hemianthus m. and umbrosum, Hetro z. "Stargrass",
"Water Sprite", Bacopa m., Liliaopsis b., Myrio a., Eusteralis s. Rotalla r.
and Glosso. In fact, the Pearlgrass, Stargrass and Glosso by the pond all
bloomed and lately their offspring have started appearing all over the place.
Yikes!
I predict that glosso is going to get classified as a noxious weed around
here real soon. The seeds must be microscopic.
Also by the pond in bog conditions are Crypts wendtii, a willisi X and
several C. ciliata - one of which must be two feet tall.
The key factor here must be the humidity and semitropical conditions. I
nursed and fertilized them at first but I realize now that this probably
wasn't needed. I use a machete on the E. cord now.
Bob Olesen
West Palm Beach