Red Tiger Lily

**Coldfire** · 6th Apr 2009, 21:55

Hello, I added red tiger lily (well spread) to my custom made tank that is 65 cm in height.

To my astonishment, one of the leaves grown and shoot up to the surface of the tank in 3 days (60 cm) !!!

Is this normal? Is it a sign of lack of lights or is it just growing too well?

My tank info:

size: 100cm width, 20cm breath and 65 cm height.
running on cylinder CO2 at 1bps per second.
due to height, running on 2 tubes of osram lights at 54 and 39 watts.
using GEX substrate.
tankmates: spikey moss, hairgrass, a couple of other plants (to find their name), tiny floating plants that keep growing more and more, 2 SAEs, 40+ tetras and 6 blue angel fish (my prize beauties).

Thank you.

**hwchoy** · 7th Apr 2009, 01:51

waterlilies have two kinds of leaves, one stay submerged and the other would grow straight up to reach for the surface. this is normal. if you don't wish for the plant to have floating leaves, then cut it off at the base of the leaf stalk and the plant will learn to produce submersed leaves.

on the other hand when the plant is very strong, it MAY soon flower after producing some floating leaves.

**fishking** · 7th Apr 2009, 10:18

The plant before flowering will grow floating leaves after growing a few submerged leaves first. If you were to cut away the floating leaves, the plant will never flower.

But the floating leaves will get very big and will block the lights. I used rubber band to tie up the floating leaves together...hahaha

**barmby** · 7th Apr 2009, 10:58

red tiger lily is a beauty. fertile substrate, and frequent trimming may keep the plant growing low.

**Coldfire** · 7th Apr 2009, 17:36

Many thanks to all for the knowledge shared.

Looking forward to see some flowers bloom.

Cheers!

**Ian Lim** · 8th Aug 2009, 10:20

Mine have been coming up to the surface since 2 weeks ago and the leave will have 'burnt' hole and melt away, it is normal? It turns brown and melt due to the strong lighting?