My experiences with downois

[Robert]

Hi,
thanks to Loh Kwek Leong I got three bare, about 5cm long stalks of Potamogeton helferi, downois, at the beginning of January. I never had this plant before, so I had no idea which special treatment it needs. So I treated it like any other stem plant. I let the stalks float on the water surface of my shrimp tank (20-24°C, ph 7-7,5 , GH ~20, KH ~18, no artificial CO2, very little liquid fertilizer) until new plantlets appeared in the nodes. I planted the stalks with the new tiny, about 1cm big plantlets when the first roots appeared. This was about four weeks later. I moved into a new apartment shortly before and had not enough tanks running at this moment, so the plants were planted in a small container with lava gravel. I put the container in the shrimp tank, where it still is. My attempt to plant the stalks densely under the surface of the gravel failed. So I used some pebbles to keep them from floating. Here is the first picture of my downois, taken at the 1st of February:



The biggest plant was about 1.2cm big, the other ones about 1cm. They were not shaded but got only light from a 15Watt FL in my 30cm high shrimp tank. The shrimps and snails in the tank never damaged the plantlets, so it was relatively safe place for the plants until now.

The plantlets grew and still grow steadily but very slowly. Perhaps some CO2 and a base fertilizer would help them but I do not want to replant them because the seem to have very fragile little roots. In my shrimp tank I do not want to add CO2 because there are just some mosses and Anubias, so there is no need for it and the risk to hurt my shrimps with a fluctuating ph is too high. One month later, at the 7th of March, the new downois look like this:



The biggest ones are now about 2.5-3cm big and slowly getting the characteristic leaf-shape. All in all these are nine plantlets. The stalk on the left side got only two plantlets but they are the biggest ones now. The stalk in the middle got four plantlets but the smallest one is only about 1.3cm big. It seems as if no new plantlets are coming but nine is a good result in my opinion for three bare stalks which traveled one week around the globe. I will plant them into a new tank when they reach a size of about 4cm. At the moment, they seem to be too fragile because they are relatively stiff. I'm too afraid to damage them while replanting them, so I will wait.
I really like this plant and want to say thank you to Loh K L for this opportunity to keep it.

Best regards

Robert

[Piscesgirl]

Wow, I'm really surprised you were able to get such good growth without co2. What substrate is it kept in? Is there perhaps a lot of nutrients in the substrate, i.e. the Diana Walstad method?

[amber2461]

Very nice indeed, thanks for sharing, that is incredible growth for a month.

[zmzfam]

This thread belongs in the 'Planted Tanks' sub-forum. I'm moving it there

[TyroneGenade]

Loh sent me some Downois too... They survived the post in freezing whether. They arrived sprouting roots and leaves! I then out them in my desk killie tank (not filtration etc... nice soft water, just plants to do the filtering) where they took well for a few days before the bluddy snails took them out!!! I have one left that I have moved to a safe place and it seems to want to get growing again. I'm hoping my last surviving Downoi will become as lovely as yours!

[timebomb]

You know, I send plants to many people all over the world but rarely do I get to see a photograph in return. Congratulations, Robert. It's great to know your Downoi's not only survived the journey but are multiplying rapidly.

Your picture of the plant is so clear that if it had not been for the shrimp, I would have thought they were outside water. The Downoi's are prone to melting. I don't know what causes it but it's probably something to do with a sudden change in temperature or water parameters. Sometimes, the melting does not occur immediately but a few days later.

Loh K L

[Robert]

Hi,
thanks for all these kinds words! I hope the plantlets continue their slow growth.

Deborah, I did not use a rich substrate. I used washed lava sand/gravel because this was the first thing I found after I moved to the new apartment. The lava gravel was washed before, so there should be no nutrients. I did not wanted to let the stalks float because they grow plants around the stem and it would be hard to plant them anymore if there are too many little plantlets. That's why I used the gravel and the pebbles to stop them from floating.

best regards

Robert

[whuntley]

I was one who received one of KL's kind plant packages.

The Weeping Moss is hanging in there (but neglected while fishroom is under construction). It's not worth a pic, but the earlier Taiwan moss has gone wild, filling a shoebox and covering a big piece of driftwood in my Tui Chub tank. I should post a pic of that, soon.

The sad one was the Downoi. Apparently, I left the packet with it and the Weeping Moss in the mailbox overnight and it was freezing weather. The Moss is recovering, but all the Downoi stems (there were several) seem to have diisintegrated. No pics, for sure.

Wright

[Slaigar]

My downois shared the same fate as Wright's downois. While they were in shipment, it was the coldest weather I could ever imagine. The weather dipped down to -50 degrees Celsius! Stems were pale on arrival and all melted away.

[amitava]

Hi Loh,

Would you consider me to have your plant packages? Just a few will do.

regards

[timebomb]

Amitava, I'm afraid I don't have any Downoi's to spare at the present moment. The Downoi's which I sent to Wright, Tyrone, Robert and Mark were bare stems and I happened to have many of them then because I tore down my main tank. As you can see from what the guys have said, the Downoi isn't a good traveller. Chances of it surviving a long journey in an envelope are slim. I have to say I'm actually quite surprised those I sent to Robert managed to survive.

I can't send you any Downoi's but if you like, I can give you some Taiwan Moss. Just let me have your mailing address through private message or email and I'll get some to you.

Loh K L

[shalu]

Loh K, my experience about Downoi traveling is a bit different. Last month I bought a downoi from another hobbiest in Singapore. It took 12 days in transit. I got it in absolutely PERFECT condition. I think the way he packed it made a difference. He wrapped it in damp newspaper and then sealed it in a small inflated plastic bag. It took off immediately in my tank.

[strung_0ut]

I'm surprised that in envelopes the plant doesn't get smashed to pieces. If boxed I can see the plant surviving many days, its surprised me more than I expected.

Regards,
Dennis

[amber2461]

The Downoi that Mr Loh sent to me bia envelope arrived here safely and in good condition. That was after the snowfall , of course. ~wink wink~

[milkyway]

Hi all,

Does downoi require low temperature when they are grown submersed?
Used to have one and it melted away as I didnt install a fan then to bring down the temperature

It requires reasonable good lighting right?

Regards
Rob

[Nonn]

In natural habitat Downoi grow along the bank of hill stream about 100 meters from mean sea level. Some of them get exposed to full tropical sun light as they grow on the rock in middle of the stream some grow along the bank where they get shade from the tree, they get less light but it is the tropic, so it is a lot of light anyway.

The water temperature is quite cold. Something like 20C. a little warmer in summer and a little colder in winter. They are not an easy plant to keep. I myself never keep one alive longer than a few month, being the first person to ever collected and kept it in planted aquarium :P

btw, in Thai Dow = star, Noi - litte > Downoi = Little Star.

[timebomb]

Nice pics, Nonn.

The next time you come across a new aquatic plant, remember to stake out the whole area and claim it as your own Have you any idea how much that stream is worth, considering that the Downoi's were going for Sing $20 a stalk when they were first sold here.

But seriously, folks, those of you who got the Downoi's from me, maybe you should say a big thank you to Nonn too. He is the one who introduced this plant to the hobby. I got my first Downoi from a friend of Nonn's. Nid came to Singapore 2 years ago with her boyfriend and she brought along with her 6 Downoi's for me. I do believe every single Downoi in Singapore now were descended from these 6 stalks

Loh K L

[amber2461]

Sawatdee Nonn

Thank you very much for sharing the wealth with us.

Cheers

[TyroneGenade]

Hello Loh!

Just got news from SA. One of the plants is growing nicely! Ray, says thanks and he will try send of the local Potomegeton species.

[keehoe]

Thanks KL, Thanks Nonn

I have 5 stalks growthing in my "planted tank". The tank is rather messy now as i remove a lot of the plant and fishes and preparing for a complete redo. The average temperature of that tank is 27C. I have just had my 1feet tank redo for plant growth monitoring and put two stalks of downoi there.

Will provide a detail report if it is successful.