Water Sprite

[djlen]

For some reason I'm having a difficult time with water sprite. This mystifies me as I know it to be one of the easiest plants to grow.
It doesn't grow at all and just kind of slowly dies off. Back in the old days, when I used it as a floater to assist gouramis with their bubble nests it grew like a plague, both floating and planted.
I have a large variety of other plants doing quite well. Anyone have any idea what the problem could be.
Len

[wannabesan]

I've heard that they prefer lower Ph's. I have alot of them and I also have low Ph(VERY soft water) and it is unstopable. I do not have any tanks with elevated Ph so I can't compare the two environments.

[Bruddah Chrispy]

Aloha e Len,

I've had very good luck with sprites. My pH is about 7.2, kH is 4-5, gH is 7. So, maybe they like the soft water.

You might look to see how far down into the substrate you are planting them. They seem to like just barely holding on by their roots in my tank.

Good Luck

[djlen]

Thanks guys,
I have extremely soft water as well, and can't seem to keep them alive. Maybe I got a bad batch. I'll give it another shot.
I read on one of those plant selling sites that they either grow like crazy or just sit there and wither away.....unfortunately mine did the latter.
Wannabe, where in So. Jersey do you live?
Len

[wannabesan]

My sprites are really hard to keep down, especially since I only have med-large gravel(no good grip on the roots) and the fact that sprites REALLY want to float.

I live in Monroe Twp. I've been over to Bob's Wonderland of Pets a couple of times in Somerdale, but I can't say I was impressed with their tank conditions.

[kveeti]

Originally posted by djlen
I have extremely soft water as well, and can't seem to keep them alive. Maybe I got a bad batch. I'll give it another shot. I read on one of those plant selling sites that they either grow like crazy or just sit there and wither away.....unfortunately mine did the latter.Len

Before yours withers and dies and makes the aquarium look like a tossed salad (not my analogy, I read that somewhere, but so true), does yours grow any baby plants that break off?

I bought the absolutely healthiest looking stuff, and mine died off too. Granted, I don't have the best conditions for any plants but the others do all right. Anyhow, after being thoroughly disgusted I threw 99.9% of it away and just planted a couple of wee babies amongst other plants. You couldn't even see them for a long time. Then suddenly it took off. The crown of mine also hangs above the gravel, holding on by its roots, like vals. I guess, for me, it has to grow up in the tank and not be replanted. Maybe that would work for you, too.

[djlen]

The stuff I bought really didn't look that great when I bought it...I'll wait for a nice batch and try planting it not as deep. I've always just had such good luck with it, that I just stuck it in there and expected it to grow. Oh well, a lesson learned.
Len