Cyperus helferi - non aquatic plant?

**Justikanz** · 8th May 2006, 14:56

My whole batch of Cyperus helferi, about 10 bunch all melted recently, after about 2 months in my tank.

I had read about this plant in the plant guide book and it states that it is a marsh plant that can survive underwater. I now think of it as a non-aquatic plant, i.e. one that does not have submersed formed and will not adapt to full time submersed. Is that true?

If not, then would anyone know if the C.helferi we bought can be used for emersed culture directly?

**Ibn** · 10th May 2006, 04:11

Works fine underwater. I have some that have been with me for the last 2 years. Here's the grouping last time that I pulled them out to snap a pic.

**Justikanz** · 10th May 2006, 10:49

Well, it is giving me hope.

I am thinking it might be a lack of a rich substrate for those that melted away. They were planted in lapis sand with root monster...

I have some in soil in another tank. But as some commented that the soil I used is not as fertile, I am thinking of adding root monster... Hope it works!

**Wackytpt** · 10th May 2006, 20:00

Originally Posted by Justikanz

Well, it is giving me hope.

I am thinking it might be a lack of a rich substrate for those that melted away. They were planted in lapis sand with root monster...

I have some in soil in another tank. But as some commented that the soil I used is not as fertile, I am thinking of adding root monster... Hope it works!

Thomas,

How is your lighting for that tank?

**Justikanz** · 10th May 2006, 23:37

The one with the lapis? It is the 4ft tank, using 4x54W T5HO. But I had been using 2x54W instead, alternating between 6500K and 10,000K daily. Occassionally, I will use all 4 tubes together.

The ones in soil is in the 2ft tank, using 2x24W T5HO.

**fishbonez** · 11th May 2006, 00:47

i think temperature is impt too, mine started growing better after i introduced a fan.

btw, do you know where i might be able to find this plant, cause they grow kinda slow and i dont think i want to wait

**Justikanz** · 11th May 2006, 01:05

My tank is kept around at an average of about 27C using fans...

**Ibn** · 11th May 2006, 04:58

Temperature shouldn't be a problem. The tank that mine are in is set at 84F (almost 29C).

**aquarius** · 14th May 2006, 22:57

I bought mine 4 days ago and they were growing well when i bought them - with a no of baby shoots sprouting out. Now they are melting away.

Tank size : 3 x 1.5 x 1.5 inch
Light : 3 x 39T5
Temperature : 28C
Substrate : seachem flourite

What is their fertilising requirement to keep them healthy?

**zenscape** · 15th May 2006, 12:24

Originally Posted by Justikanz

My whole batch of Cyperus helferi, about 10 bunch all melted recently, after about 2 months in my tank.

I had read about this plant in the plant guide book and it states that it is a marsh plant that can survive underwater. I now think of it as a non-aquatic plant, i.e. one that does not have submersed formed and will not adapt to full time submersed. Is that true?

If not, then would anyone know if the C.helferi we bought can be used for emersed culture directly?

A year ago, Teo showed me a batch of C. helferi growing emersed in his farm. They looked exactly like the one we see in tank except there were flowers at the tips.

Subsequently, I ordered mine through a LFS who gets his supply from Oriental, which appeared to be in submerged form. They are doing fine in my tank. In fact, i find them quite hardy. They are shaded by other plants in my tank and they are still surviving.

**ragn4rok** · 25th Jun 2006, 08:03

Hi all,

Is this the emmersed Cyperus helferi?

From its inflorescene, I'm not to sure with mine because I found them anywhere in my backyard.

C. helferi? in my backyard.

Jeffrey

**chua** · 25th Jun 2006, 12:50

My C helferi is also doing great in my tank.
It grew to a point where it is so dense and long. So I uprooted it and remove those leaves that are long. Then I replanted it back into my tank. Initially, It seems that they are going to melt after the heavy trimming but now they are back again.

Generally, I feel it is quite a hardy plant. I like them better than vels because it is a much slower grower as compare to vels and the leaves are finer.

**primavera** · 25th Jun 2006, 19:13

Mine's very hardy too. Can take well to shading by other plants, and much more slow growing/less maintenence.

The cyperus family is a large group of plants, including tropical weeds in our garden. They have very similar leaf structure and inflorescence. In fact when I first bought my helferi 3 years ago, I thought I was conned by the LFS into buying a weed that I have in my garden.

**aquarius** · 27th Jun 2006, 00:36

Originally Posted by ragn4rok

Hi all,
pg[/IMG]
C. helferi? in my backyard.

Jeffrey

This is definately not C. helferi in the emmersed form.

**budak** · 27th Jun 2006, 09:15

It's a species of Cyperus, but not an aquatic one. This grass-like species is very common in this region. As primavera said, there are many species of Cyperus (hairgrasses – Eleocharis – are also in the same family) and the vast majority of them are terrestrial plants, albeit favouring wetter soils compared to true grasses.