Growing Echinodorus emersed

[whoppie]

Hi guys,

I got a big Echinodorus grandiflorus and I would like to grow it emersed. Can anyone here please give me some pointers on how to go about doing so?

I was told the Echinodorus species is one of the easiest to grow emersed as its a very hardy plant.

Thanks

[Robert]

Hi,
some weeks ago I wrote this to someone at AQ beause he had a similar question:

"Hi,
I guess all or almost all Echinodorus can be kept emersed. I kept several Echinodurus e.g. E. schlueteri, E. 'ozelot', E. 'Regine Hildebrandt' etc. emersed and they also flowered and got seeds. The most important thing is to keep the humidity relatively high. In too dry air the leaves will dry too. It also takes a while before the plants starts growing new leaves, so don't be shocked to see your plants with dried leaves and no sign of life for a few days.
The best would be to keep them not in direct sunlight and in a closed box or tank like a green house in miniature. Plant them semi-emersed for the beginning, so the the water level is a few milimeter above the soil. All in all it's relatively easy. Just take the plant, put in a small pot with a mix of gravel and normal soil and put in a half filled tank which is well covered to keep the right humidity."

I hope it helps you.

regards

Robert

[captain plant]

hi garlic,
I just leave the plant alone, as it's new leaves will naturally start growing out of water. And after about the fifth new emersed leaf, it's the flower stalk's turn. I'm still monitoring if leaves / stalk gets too dry, before spraying water; it's under about 1/2 hour of direct sunlight each day.

Cheers,
Nelson

[budak]

To hasten it, cut off all submersed leaves at their base, leaving just the crown of the plant. trim the roots too to about 1.5 inches. Then plant the thing (don't bury the crown) in a watertight pot with about 3-4 cm of water. plain gravel is fine if you add regular fert (used fish tank water is good enough), but you can use mixed gravel/soil (3:1) also. Place in a spot with good sunlight for a few hours either in the morning or later afternoon. Beware, emmersed grandis grow to over a metre tall and wide.

[whoppie]

Beware, emmersed grandis grow to over a metre tall and wide.