Emersed culture

[shaman]

Hi brothers! I am trying to grow some crypt emersed. Is it ok for me to use a plastic tub with water only? Or do I need to put soil?
Which method is better? Thank you!

[|squee|]

You can try using old Aquasoil in a ceramic pot and planting the crypt in it, then placing the pot in a aquarium with about say... 5cm of water filled up. I've seen it done that way.

Personally, mine's a mixture of funny soils that I put together and I planted crypt wenditii and something else on, in a covered aquarium. The soil is kept soaked. Although the plants are fine, I believe the continous stagnant water is not exactly the best condition for them.

Xema's thread in Plant Talk also has some good pointers.

[lorba]

Shaman, the affinis?

Use a tank that you can cover to retain mositure. Low water just enough for the soil to absorb the water upwards.

Pot the crypts in small flower pots or even those plastic pots with rock wool that comes when you purchase plants. Provide good lighting.

You should see them grow.

[shaman]

Thanks Roland for the advice. The affinis still is adapting to the emersed condition. The leaves shed. Could anyone advice if there's any different planting them without soil (just water) and with soil? Is the speed of growth the same?

[lorba]

If you want to grow nice emerse culture, better to use soil. Can try ADA brown soil for affinis since its from the acidic water.

Why not you do the experiement of growing it without soil? But do add a little peat or ketapang leave to the water.

[shaman]

Thank you for the advice. I was thinking of using the concept of hydroponics. Not sure whether it works. Ketaping leaves is certainly a good idea. But the water looks a little dirty when the leaves rot.

[Weirong]

I'm trying out at my first attempt at emersed Crypts too. Do you guys think this will work? As in, will the Crypts melt and then recover as usual?

[lorba]

what substrate are you using?
Look like soup

[Weirong]

Soup??? Haha

Using JBL Aquabasis and Lapis sand.

[joe]

Hehee JBL = Ja-Ba-Lang soup

Kidding ... but is the crypt covered? or just left in the air? I believe many keep them in an enclosed tank where the moisture stays in the tank

[Weirong]

I left it in the open but just soaking the substrate. So far, some leaves have melted.

[XnSdVd]

Weren't those the emersed ciliata you collected? erm... Lorba, can you ID them?

[Weirong]

Yes, the smaller ones are ciliata but the one in the center, I can't ID. Will take a clealer shot when I have the chance.

[wong1979]

yup, that should work in the pic, grow it like money plant

[Goondoo]

The last time I tried emersed planting was trying to convert some hair grass from submersed to emerse... and small patch of HC with those "noodles" tub, both "dried up" like salted vegetable despite wet gravels.....

[wong1979]

The last time I tried emersed planting was trying to convert some hair grass from submersed to emerse... and small patch of HC with those "noodles" tub, both "dried up" like salted vegetable despite wet gravels.....

submersed leaves will of course dry up lah, but the root system will sprout new emmerse leaves. my hairgrass grew emmersed despite the top gravel dry, imptly the root system must be wet at all times

[Goondoo]

submersed leaves will of course dry up lah, but the root system will sprout new emmerse leaves. my hairgrass grew emmersed despite the top gravel dry, imptly the root system must be wet at all times

Nope, my try was a total disaster...

[joe]

I started one in office for crypt. wendtii 'mi oya' too. Dunno if it will work

1. dump in some ADA soil in a tao huay tub
2. put some water to just cover the soil
3. cut a few holes on the tub cover
4. cover it back and placed it near the office tank

[GaspingGurami]

Nope, my try was a total disaster...

I got same results as yours with Echinodorus oriental. Then Juggler or Lorba (can't remember clearly) taught me to cover up the top to retain humidity and it worked.

Now, I use a sawed off Coke bottle (cut off the mid-section and join back). I use normal garden soil but cover the top with a 1 grain thick layer of Lapis gravel just for aesthetics. Fill water to the level of the gravel, then cover the top back on.

Everyday, I mist the leaves before going to work and when I return. After 1 week, I notice the leaves of HC growing very tiny (half the size of submersed) and I loosen the cap at the top a bit to allow humidity to escape.

I then move it to a spot where it can get direct sun.

Slowly I undo the cap till 2 week later, I can remove the cap without the new leaves drying out. It looks a mess at first with the old bigger leaves drying and melting but with tiny bright green emmersed spots of new leaves.

When the leaves are OK all day long even though the top had no water condensation, I remove the top totally.

I have to transplant at this stage because the substrate normally starts to get BGA.

Hope this helps.