Questions on Cyperus helferi

[Justikanz]

Hi hi... I am thinking of using Cyperus helferi to replace the Vallisneria spp. that I am currently using for the tank. I got some questions on this plant...

1) How tall will the plant grow to?
2) How does it propogate? By the separation of the crown? If so, does it mean it will keep getting fatter? Does that mean there is a need to constantly uproot the plant and divide?
3) Heard it is a marsh plant. Can it survive long term submerged?
4) What conditions suit it best?

Err, there might be other questions but I can't think of more now...

Any other info on the care of this plant would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks...

[Justikanz]

Err... No one has had this plant before?... Can help with the questions?

[Fei Miao]

No a easy plant, I didn't keep them long enough to know much, but IMO they need a rich substrate, CO2 high lights. i think you might be right about the propogation; dividing at the crown.

[Wackytpt]

Err... No one has had this plant before?... Can help with the questions?

i got in my tank.. haha..
come get a few stalk to try

[Fei Miao]

Nick.. u have? I'm interesting in getting some again

[Justikanz]

What else would be a good replacement for the vallis, besides Cyperus helferi? Wonder if they die easily...

[Fei Miao]

What about C. balanse?

[|squee|]

Get the straight Vallis that I thought was Cyperus helferi then!

[benny]

What about C. balanse?

That's a good recommendation.

Cheers,

[Justikanz]

What about C. balanse?

Hmm... that sounds like a good idea...

Where to find the balanse? I hardly see it available... Anyway, if it is, I might not recognise it...

Maybe I can try the Cyperus helferi at the same time while looking for the balanse...

Get the straight Vallis that I thought was Cyperus helferi then!

Terence, I am afraid it will start growing out of hand like my current vallis and sprout shoots everywhere!

[|squee|]

Lol, then you have to do what I do every week, cut off those runners

Anyway, from Tropica website, Cyperus helferi.

I suggest you try Cyperus helferi. In Amano's tanks they always look nice.

[Justikanz]

Thanks, Terence... But trying to trim the runners in a tank 2ft tall and sitting on a cabinet with short arms is a lot of wet armpits! No thanks... Haha...

Think will try the Cyperus helferi while looking out for the crypt....

[Wackytpt]

Thomas,

come my place get. I got both. (not sure if the balanase is though).

Fei Miao,

You want i can spare u 2 to 3 stalks.. runners lah

[Green Baron]

Thomas,
Cyperus helferi can grow up to 18~20" tall and they propogate by rhizomes (similar to runners). I am not sure what is their ideal growing condition. They can grow to quite a big bush so you need to provide some space between the plants.

You can get C. balansae from Teo.

Other plants you can consider are, Sagittaria subulata or S. platyphylla, E. latifolius ( I can spare you some) and the thin Vals var natas (this is my fav Vals)

[Justikanz]

Thanks, Gan, I am giving up on fast growers with runners! They run all over the place and I am not very happy with constantly having wet armpits! Haha...

Nicholas, I think I can visit you on Friday, if you are free... Thanks!

[primavera]

I think you should go for the C. helferi. Doesn't put out runners, grows in a neat bush. Its my personal favourite. I've also just put in a few Crypt. balansaes, see how they go.

They don't seem to grow tall for me, unlike Amano's, probably because I have little substrate fert. I keep buying them everytime I see one, really cheap here, freaks my family out. They say I'm buying 'lalang'. Yeah.

[CK Yeo]

1) I have seen specimens reaching surface of 4X2X2 tanks. YMMV.
2) Crown. Neat. No runners. Dun grow very fast anyway, else you will see people giving away the plant all the time.
3) Yes. In fact, I had problems getting it emersed.
4) It is not a difficult plant.

Pruning it is a bit leh chey. You can't cut across the top as the cut tip will turn yellow. So you will have to remove the not-so-nice leaf at the crown. A friend has developed an amazing technique of removing unwanted leaf by giving it a quick tug... I never mastered it though.
Sometimes, the leaf edge will turn yellow, but that's probably due to something lacking in my water.

It tends to grow denser than balansae. So depends on what look you are after.

ck

[Justikanz]

Thanks! Will try both. Really looking forward to the new scape and hope I can get it ready by April 2006!

[Fei Miao]

Thanks! Will try both. Really looking forward to the new scape and hope I can get it ready by April 2006!

ADA2006

[Justikanz]

ADA2006

My birthday!

Oh, I wish I can make it for the ADA2006. Even if it is to end up as one of those small pics at the back pages... That'll still be such a honour!