Growing E.Oriental emersed

[bad_boyz]

Can this be done?

[Robert]

Hi,
I guess all or almost all Echinodorus can be kept emersed. I kept several Echinodurus e.g. E. schlueteri, E. 'ozelot', E. 'Regine Hildebrandt' etc. emersed and they also flowered and got seeds. The most important thing is to keep the humidity relatively high. In too dry air the leaves will dry too. It also takes a while before the plants starts growing new leaves, so don't be shocked to see your plants with dried leaves and no sign of life for a few days.
The best would be to keep them not in direct sunlight and in a closed box or tank like a green house in miniature. Plant them semi-emersed for the beginning, so the the water level is a few milimeter above the soil. All in all it's relatively easy. Just ake the plant, put in a small pot with a mix of gravel and normal soil and put in a half filled tank which is well covered to keep the righ humidity.

regards

Robert