The planted tank scene here is still in its infancy I must say. Virtually impossible to find a good plant shop around Sydney. After searching around, there are a few, however only one specialises in planted tanks. Most people here treat plants as temporary decoration, much like flower arrangements, sad to say. So most of the types on offer are terrestrial plants submerged for sale: sedges, alternanthera, dracaena and some hardy aquatics.
True aquatics are rare, and $$$$$. I've recently bought a single 10cm Crypt aponogetifolia offshoot for $20! And I think it was missold as from the crypt pages, it looks more like balansae with puckered leaves. However, there is an online store which offers a lot of rare plants, but also very pricey. I suspect they get their stock from Oriental. I've made an order worth $150 earlier this year, where most of my plants came from. Overall not really good quality, stargrass arrived as half melted emersed form. Eleocharis acicularis was confused for parvula, and Crypt becketii were 2 measly 3cm plants teased from a pot, still with rock wool attached. Oh well.... However, although pricey, the Crypt blasii, undulata and parva are really nice though.
One good thing is there are some good potted plants from time to time, varieties that I rarely see, at least in Malaysia (crypts for example). I have quite a big collection already.
Anothing thing to add, the natural biotopes here are quite rich with plants, particularly mosses. Actually, just 2 weeks ago, I came back from a camping trip where I collected some mosses from around the campsite and streams. Will post pictures and report later.
Regards
Min
Sorry for the slow response to your post, Min. I appreciate very much that you started a new thread for this.
Were you talking in Australian dollars? If you were, $20 Aussie dollars for a single Crypt is really pricey.
We would love to see the mosses you collected. Pictures of them in their natural habitats would be even better.
Loh K L
Min,
I was in NZ about 5 years back. I visited 2 good shops in Auckland who offered plants. Like what you mentioned, the prices are high on plants. The equipment is no exception. One of them, a chinese shop impressed me when he took out his collection of Amano books. He wished he could raise awareness of such hobby but he had not been successful then. I was told then that Australia faired the same. I guess this boils down to shipment costs to down under and higher labour costs inherited there. Nevertheless, Australians are deemed to be blessed people.
Yes, I'm afraid the situation has not changed much Freddy. I bought some crypts the other day and the shop assistant said they last well for a few weeks compared to bunch plants.I sincerely hope they would one day stop selling plants as 'temporary decoration' and instead foster interest in raising them well.
Yes Kwek Leong, I did pay 20 Aussie for the crypt. I know, its pricey, but I couldn't give up an aponogetifolia. HOwever, it is looking more and more like a balansae instead..
Yes, Freddy, Australians are indeed blessed people. In many ways than one.Plant wise, its a treasure trove, courtesy of its isolation from other continents. Just too bad aquatic plants are not well known and appreciated by the locals. Recently found out many Eriocaulons introduced in recent years are from Australia.
I've quite enjoyed collecting small plant samples on camping trips. Actually, I was very surprised to find out on the APC forum that an Australian Eriocaulon fetched a hefty price of us$80 online... for a 1cm plant
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...?t=3484&page=2
I think I might actually have it, based on the colouration and the 1cm size description. Mine grows emersed though, sprouted from a moss/BGA patch I collected. Will post pics when I get a hang of taking macro with my camera.
Min
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