furry plant grower
Tried this gelatin capsule fert on my old E. oriental's roots. 2 days later, new leaves turn deep red
As I use that plant to tell me my tank conditions, I immediately suspected NO3 problem, as I've also been changing light and trying Tom Barr's suggestion to have CO2 bubblets in the water. Increased dosage of nitrate but no change. Increades phosphate dose, still no change... 3 weeks later, all return to normal, new leaves are a translucent pink. Suspected the Ferka by then, so insert another capsule to see see. 3 days later... again red leaves.
This should be good news for those trying to grow red plants. My plant's new leaves turned deep red even when I had reduced my light intensity to a low light tank. However, as I have no liking for red plants, I don't have any true red plants to verify if this fert will do the same with them.
For the record, I have no association with the Ferka people.
Warm regards,
Lawrence Lee
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
New leaves especially those near intense lights tends to be red due to high growth rate (the chlorophyll (green) takes time to form...slower than the plant tissues growth rate) which is probably why you see its anthocyanins (red/purple).
Regards
Peter Gwee
furry plant grower
Peter,Originally Posted by PeterGwee
What I don't understand for my case is:
1) Old light: 72w PLL, new leaves are pink. Present light: 18w FL, new leaves are only growing red After adding Ferka rosetta. Shouldn't new leaves be more red in the past since light is more intense, everything being constant?
2) Give the plant 2 weeks+ to use up the ferka capsule (meanwhile still maintaining daily NO3 and PO4 fertilisation and TMG on alternate days) and new leaves will return to pink.
This is a 2 year old plant that's been sitting at its same spot all along. It's so stable that I use it to tell me about deficiencies in the water column etc as I have grown accustomed with looking at its growth and the leaves are quite communicative and are big enough for old eyes like mine.
I like the idea of fertilising once a fortnight -- less work than measuring liquids daily. However, I don't particularly like red leaves, preferring my oriental to produce the pink ones. And I dare not stop the water column dosing in case the capsule is not enough.
Peter, would you know if the other type of ferka capsule (I think it is stemma) be more normal for the oriental?
Warm regards,
Lawrence Lee
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
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