HC dying or coming back to life again?

[merkava74]

New to the hobby, and planted some HC in a 2 ft tank. Been reading a bit on these forums to get some knowledge before trying it out. It's been a week now after planting, and while the HC was pearling the first few days, now it looks like they are dying. the leaves are turning a darker green and has that wilting look. But there are also traces of new young leaves appearing. I am using 1.5 BPS CO2, with daily liquid fertilisers. Substrate is already laid with nutrients too. Water temperature is 24 Degrees using a chiller. Lighting is a LED fixture.

Besides the HC, I am growing some Hairgrass. They seem to be performing well, as I can see roots shorting to grow and new shoots appearing. So I'm puzzled with the HC is behaving like this.

I read that while acclimatising to a new tank, plants can "melt" and then "come back to life". Never really understood this.

Can anyone provide some info on this?

Thanks!

[hann]

Are your hc Cuba sold in pots? They are mostly in emersed form. When you grow them in the substrate, they will accustom themselves from emersed to submerged form when they are the most vulnerable. Generally, this will be the time some or most of the leaves melt. Removed those melted leaves and slowly you will see those survived blossom. It will take a bit of time though.

[merkava74]

Yes mine came in pots. I removed them as carefully as I can from the wool, and planted a few of them at a time into the substrate, with about an inch between them for space. Here's a photo of the tank when it was first completed a week ago. The front is HC while the back is Hairgrass.

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[elwaynetan]

I believed most plants, if not all, will somehow go through a phase of acclimation in the water. I am experiencing the same for my small patches of HC now. But I believed they will be back again. Most of my other plants in the tank are going through the same as well. So I am trimming the weaker old leaves to promote new growth from the parent plants. Fret not, as long as you see budding leaves, with addition of fertilizers, the plants (whether or not HC) will eventually make a comeback. Unless, of course, you don't see any HC left on the substrate. That is when you just stone in front of the tank and think about what you did and did not. haha!

[merkava74]

I believed most plants, if not all, will somehow go through a phase of acclimation in the water. I am experiencing the same for my small patches of HC now. But I believed they will be back again. Most of my other plants in the tank are going through the same as well. So I am trimming the weaker old leaves to promote new growth from the parent plants. Fret not, as long as you see budding leaves, with addition of fertilizers, the plants (whether or not HC) will eventually make a comeback. Unless, of course, you don't see any HC left on the substrate. That is when you just stone in front of the tank and think about what you did and did not. haha!

Thanks! After 1 week, yes, I see little leaves budding! Damn happy! And the Hairgrass behind is growing amazingly too!