Aponogeton bulb question

[WinterWind]

I bought some bulbs from walmart about a week ago, and most of them have sprouted already, but one of them is growing much faster than the others.

One of the stalks is quite tall, and at the top of the stem, there's a small green bulbous coming out instead of a leaf. What is this growth? Is it a flower bloom?

I've read that aponogetons can bloom flowers, but it's only been a week, so is it a flower bloom? I heard this flowering growth can be bad for the plant? If so, should I cut it off, and if I should cut it off, how should I do it (for example, just pinch off the bulbous thing, or the whole stalk)?

Thanks.

[WinterWind]

BTW, kinda look like this:

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,178.jpg

pinch off just end, or the whole stalk on which it is on?

[tyella]

I clip off the whole stalk, down to the plant bulb.

[XxlOaF]

Ibought some of those, and they were growing wonderfuly....till the snail got to them.

Hes in another tank now :mad2:

[WinterWind]

OK, thanks. Any other suggestions?

Will it kill the plant if I don't?

[tyella]

No,
I've let them go, to see if they'll seed. They didn't by the way. I did get them to make little plantlets once several years ago, but they didn't root. The plants survived fine for a while.

There is a dormant stage, and my inkling is that flowering causes this to happen more quickly. I don't have any proof of this, however. Just a hunch.

Tony

[WinterWind]

So do you think I can just let the little thingy grow without taking it off?

I took the whole stalk off yesterday, but now another one is growing at the same place! Should I just let it go this time, or take it off ASAP?

[tyella]

Let it grow, or you'll always wonder!!

Besides, those things are cheap enough....even if the bulb goes dormant you can always plant another!

[PJGirl112]

Wow...I have been waiting for someone else to ask about these bulbs! I have about 2 dozen in my tanks right now and they send up (what I call) "shooters" every couple of days.

If you let them be and go to the top of the tank you will have a white or pinkish two-pronged flower (white most often) within 4-5 days growing above the water line. I cut them off 2x a week at the bulb and the very next day there is usually a new 'underwater' leaf starting to grow. If you want underwater plants, you should keep trimming them back when you get shooters!

Also, these are a mixed variety so sometimes I got crispus--mostly a lighter green--and sometimes I got a plant that looks more like a darker color tall crispus that doesn't send out as many stalks to the top...they are obviously different varieties. The leaves look similiar in form, but the color is different and they seem to grow differently.

There is also a 20-day sprouting warrenty on the back of the package if they are from Sea Life, Inc. I sent three bulbs back to them a few months ago and they sent me a package of 10 new ones within a few weeks! They immediately started to grow within 1 day (I am not kidding). I started to wonder how long those older bulbs had been packaged at the Wal-mart???

These plants seem to be pretty hardy...I have started them off in the 10G and have since moved them into the other bigger tanks without any die-off--they have an amazing root system. For me, the $2.97 tag is well worth it for 5+ bulbs/package considering plants in my town cost anywhere between $1.69 to $5.99 each!

In my opinion, if you have bulbs that haven't sprouted after 20 days, send them back and they gave me 3x the amount I returned and they were all viable...I have a happy little Wal-mart plant family!

[WinterWind]

Thanks alot for the info!

DOes anyone know anything about tiger lily/lotus bulbs?

I got some of those two, and only one sprouted a tiny blip of a sprout and its already 10 weeks.

[tyella]

Winterwind,
Try this thread from a couple of months ago. It has some info regarding all of this stuff.

Tony


http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46438&page=1&pp=15

+++++EDIT+++++++
Ha! I see you participated in that thread!
Oops
++++++++++++++++

[WinterWind]

Ok, thanks.

[yonukka]

If you have the room for more plants all you have to do is get a Q-tip and rub it along the white "flower" so that it will fertilize the eggs at the tip. Within days (possibly a week) you will see new plants growing of the white part. They will eventually fall off into the gravel and grow (as long as they dont get eaten by fish). Use caution though as this will create several new plants.