Please Identify

[Toro Driver]

I need help getting a posotive identity on this little plant. I want to know how to care for it and propegate it if possible (see attachment.)

Thanks.

[Leopardess]

I'd say a very dreary, droopy looking Water Sprite.

My comp. is being wierd, I can't link you, but this is taken from Tropica's website:

Ceratopteris thalictroides

Family Pteridaceae

Continent Pan Tropic

Region Pan Tropic

Country of origin

Height 15-30 cm

Width 10-20 cm

Light requirements high-very high

Temperature 20-28 °C

Hardness tolerance very soft-very hard

pH tolerance 5-9

Growth very fast

Demands easy


This plant normally grows fast, but the addition of CO2 may be necessary to promote growth. In small open aquariums it can grow out of the aquarium and form beautiful surface leaves. The finely branched leaves are very decorative and provide good contrast to other leaf shapes. In good light Ceratopteris thalictroides grows fast and helps prevent algae by consuming large amounts of nutrients. This makes it a good starter plant in small aquariums.


I have this plant but find it to be a little picky.

[TKOS]

That's funny because it grow like a weed for me with 2.6 watts per gallon and little to no added ferts.

It also grows as a floating plant, which is nice in breeder tanks.

[125gJoe]

The plant seems too yellow for a Water Sprite..

At this time, I have no guess on what it is...
A "yellow" Water Sprite? Hmmmm..

[Slappy*McFish]

I think it's just his lighting..if you look closely at the leaf structure, it most definitely is some sort of sickly water-sprite.

[MrGoodbytes]

Looks like unhappy water sprite to me, or at the most extreme, water wisteria.

Water sprite isn't too picky for me (actually grows like mad), but I have CO2 and dose potassium nitrate twice a week. I would say 1.0-1.5WPG is a healthy minimum.

If it is wisteria you might need more light than water sprite, though I have never kept it personally.

Graeme

[Toro Driver]

The plant is not yellow, I think its a small algae bloom. It affects only the older parts of the plant and not all my plants are getting it. I was leaning towards wisteria :rolleyes:

Can't find a picture of water sprite. The plant also has small new shoots that are sending off roots of that might help.:D

[TKOS]

Are there roots growing from the stem?

[Leopardess]

It could be wisteria (hygrophila difformis)....i've seen some with narrow leaves like that. I swear it looks like water sprite though:p
Its funny how much the leaves can change. In my 55, I'm growing it horizontally and the leaves are almost round, without the jagged edges - sort of like what it looks like when floating.:)

I must have gotten the 'unlucky' water sprite because I have it in different tanks, one with 2/2.5wpg and the other with 3.6wpg, both with Co2 and both dosed with trace elements, iron, and potassium so far. Granted, it was growing fairly well in the 3.6er, but not as good as I had hoped for.

[Toro Driver]

Originally posted by TKOS
Are there roots growing from the stem?

Yea, were the new groth is. Last night I broke off the new growth (it pulled off real easy.) and replanted it. Well see how it does.

[cdawson]

definately dose with potassium, it grows fast and uses alot of nutrients up. You'll probably find that you're gonna need to use ferts and have to dose more trace elements than usual. Watch out for potassium deficiency.