Utricularia graminifolia enquiries

[gemo82]

Hi,

I just bought some plants from Mizuworld. Included in my order is Utricularia graminifolia and it arrived in a bunch entangled in a plastic bag without pot. Any bro can advise how I should plant this supposedly beautiful plant? Right now I just chuck it half buried in soil in my tank, as I have difficulty separating them plant by plant, not able to orientate them roots down, as they are all entangled up. Thanks for any advice.

[Mizu World]

Apologies for the 'mess' we sent.

You can float the patch and loosen the portion. Roots should be easily distinguished, althought they are very fine. Plant them sparingly in small portions.

UG will do better if you float it first and plant them a little later. This is provided that there is no fish that will disturb it.

[Salphur]

Hi Gemo82,
i also think that it will be good to float them to loosen up the bunch of UG before planting.

Planting wise, just group them into smaller bunches. I laid a line of UG on a flat surface then gently roll them into a group and plant. It is advisable to plant them in deeper so that sufficient anchor can be given before it takes root. If you have fauna that like to dig around, then it will not be easy in establishing this plant.

I am currrently cultivating UG in Gex soil (Dark Green packaging- smaller soil granules), with 2x24w T5HO lighting in 8 hours photoperiod.

Cheers!

[uklau]

Be sure to feed your fish well. Mine disappered without any trace when I was away from home for a week.

[Salphur]

Ben,
what fish did you kept that time? Something for me too look out as well.

[uklau]

Tetras. Not too sure if that happened after the holiday food was consumed or before.

[blue33]

So UG is a delicious food for the fish.

[gemo82]

No problem Ben. It is just that I am new to this hobby, so not very sure how to handle such plants. Haha. I am not having any fish in the tank yet, so I think I will take it out of soil and let it float. Only afraid it'll be sucked in by my surface skimmer.

Do I need to provide light and CO2 while I let it float?

[illumnae]

UG has very soft leaves and are thus easy to eat. i've read quite a few reports of fish snacking on them

[gemo82]

Oh one more question, for plants on mesh, can I just cut the mesh to the size I want, with the plants on them and just bury them into the soil?

[StanChung]

Hi Gemo, depends if it's tied to the stainless mesh and also the type of plant-whether it sticks to the mesh without the line. If it doesn't you have to retie.

I find UG is best grown tied to little lava rocks personally. You can press it into the soil if you want but that's not really necessary.

[Salphur]

UG has very soft leaves and are thus easy to eat. i've read quite a few reports of fish snacking on them

Ohhh.. haha, that would be quite a pricey nice-to-eat snack!


Cheers!

[gemo82]

Does that means a yes? I just cut the mesh to watever size I want, secure by retying, then put it in soil?

How to tie UG?

[Mizu World]

Does that means a yes? I just cut the mesh to watever size I want, secure by retying, then put it in soil?

How to tie UG?

Yes, it can be done. UG secures itself very well to attached materials, just like US Fissidens.

You can tie using clear fishing line or cotton string.