How to grow emersed downoi?

[ragn4rok]

Hi all,

Anyone here have tried to grow downoi in the emersed form? Any experience and some pics (if possible) to share? How to acclimate submersed downoi to emmersed? Thanks...

Jeff

[timebomb]

Hi, Jeff,

I believe the trick to get the Downoi to grow emersed is to do is slowly. In other words, it won't work if you simply transfer the Downoi from submersed to emersed conditions. It will probably simply dry up and die. I think you would have to plant it submersed first in a shallow tank and let it grow out out of the water by itself.

In it's natural habitats, the Downoi grows both emersed and submersed. I have a picture of it somewhere. I'll see if I can find it later.

Loh K L

[ed seeley]

I've never tried with downei, but I am currently converting a sword (E.osiris 'Rubra') to emersed growth. I have it planted in a glass IKEA vase, covered over, and am simply letting the water level slowly drop very similar to that suggested above. The sword is slowly producing emersed leaves above the water line. Hopefully a similar method would work with your plants.
I found that Marsilea was far easier to switch over. I just planted submerged bits in potting compost and covered the pot to stop them drying out too much.

[phiL]

Hi Jeff,
i'm growing downoi emersed. I will post some pictures of it tomorrow when I get back from university.
The setup is pretty simple: In my large tank (120litres) I have put a wire mesh just at the height of the water level. In this mesh i have put several downoi plant which i took from my other tank. They were growing totally submersed. Due to the high humidity they dont dry up, even if they are really close to the lighting. They grow faster and have a nice and characteristic shape.
The roots just grow down into the water, they are about 5-7 cm long.

I hope this was understandable, if not, the pictures will make this much clearer.

I actually got the idea of trying to grow downoi emersed when i inserted 2 plants into the rear wall of my aquarium and they started spreading out from there.

If done that for about 1-2 months now. The plants grow faster than submersed. When i put them back into submersed conditions they dont loose any leaves. I have noticed though, that they change a little bit in shape. It takes about 2-3 days until i can see the first changes. They grow higher and very fast in the first week. After that, it goes back to the growth rate which I consider as "normal".

[ragn4rok]

Thanks for the information. I'll try some soon..

Hi Phil,

Wow.. Ok, I'll wait for the pictures.. Thanks...

Jeff

[phiL]

Here is a picture where u can see the mesh and the roots growing into the water.


The next picture shows the view from the top. There is also a lot of a swimming plant. I dont know its english name. I remove them occassionally but they love to settle in this area because there is very low current.


And a closer view:


I hope the pictures work.

/edit: ok the pics don't show in this forum, but if u enter the url in your browser u can have a look at them.