Hygrophila polysperma 'Sunset'

[wahlaueh]

Seeking some basic info for the above plant. Is this a plug and grow plant? Does it absorb nutrient through leaves or roots. What about CO2? How does it propagate? How fast does it grow in a week?

[budak]

This is one of the fastest growing plants available - nearly a foot a week under optimum conditions. CO2 injection isn't necessary, but will boost growth tremendously. Limiting factors will probably be light (best 1.5 W per gallon or more) and macronutrients (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus). In most tanks, this shouldn't be a problem. Propagates abundantly through side-nodes, turning into a bush that invades its neighbours, so best suited at the back of a spacious tank. Read snails can be a problem, but the plant grows really fast, so it's no big deal. Only disappointment is that the Rosanervid variety of H. polysperma only retains its red colour under the brightest light conditions (3W/G or more), otherwise it becomes a red-tinged green, which is still nice. Also, roots will develop abundantly at each node, so much trimming is needed every week.

[wahlaueh]

Thanks for the detailed description.

This is the plant for me. I am going to use it to replace another fast grower spikey plant that I have which looks like dilipsi daindra (spelling?) with pinkish tip. Anyone know the ID of this plant?

Will the plant grow out of water level? If It does, will it dry up? Or it will float on water surface?

[wahlaueh]

Does anyone has this plant to spare. About 5-6 stalks? I also need some E. Tenellus. I dont mind paying a small sum for them.

[DEA]

something that looks like diplis diandra? with reddish leaves, slightly rounded leaf tips? sounds like rotala rotundifolia or rotala spp.
when plants reach the top of the tank, 1 of two things usually happens
1. the plant curves and grows along the surface of the water
2. the plant puts out emersed leaves and grows out of the water

[wahlaueh]

It does look like "Rotala spec. ''Nanjenshan'' (Mayaca sellowiana)" from Tropical site drawing. Except the tip is pinkish because of high light (light not blocked), otherwise it is green. When view from the top, it looks like a firework. At night, the needle leaf will close esp. at the tip. In the day before light on, the tip of this plant will bent to external light source.

Looks like the plant on the right midground, behind the glosso in Jacian's 120x60x60 tank.

[Simon]

E.stellata?


or

Gratiola sp?

[spilopterus]

Wahlaueh, you should have told me a little earlier. I just cleared an entire bucket of H.polysperma.

if you do not mind waiting, a month or so, i could have some cuttings for you.