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Re: A. madagascariensis
>> Some even suggested that Crypts and this Aponogeton
>> had an affinity; increased oxygenation due to the roots of the
>> neighbour.
>
>Although it is possible that increased oxygenation (or
>circulation) is beneficial to A. mad.,(it certainly seems to be to
>other rooted plants) it seems unlikely that this is a Cryptocoryne
>specific phenomenon. They don't even come from the same
>continent, so this would be a strange adaptation, indeed. ;-)
>
I was the one who suggested this, and it has really worked for me, whereas
lace plants never did much of anything for me by themselves, even with good
light, nutrients, and CO2. I had a lace plant growing with crypts that
bloomed, produced viable seeds, and continued to grow for five years
without any resting period. I did not mean to suggest that only crypts
would work. My hypothesis is that the roots of the crypts or any other
plant make conditions better for the lace plant probably by supplying
oxygen to the underwater soil. Small crypts, such as C. nevilli, make good
companion plants for A. madagascariensis because they do not grow high
enough to compete with the lace plant's leaves for light.
I grew this plant in a glass tray with about 0.25 inches of mud at the
bottom and 1.5 inches of gravel on top of the mud. The mud was made by
slowly mixing water with topsoil with plenty of stirring until I had a
mixture runny enough to pass through a rice strainer.
Paul Krombholz Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39174