I've had a lace plant in my heavily planted sixty four about a month. It has recently flowered above the water and have read mixed reviews as to whether this is a good or a bad thing for its overal survival. Any opinions or ideas. Love the plant and the flower is actualy very tropically beautiful
lace plant's flower
- Thread starter Altivelis
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I'm assuming you're talking about Aponogeton madagascariensis? It should have a pink, double-spiked flower. If this is it, then here the deal: Most plants in the genus Aponogeton have a dormant period. They pretty much look like they're dying and don't do anything for a few months. Then they come back and grow like mad and flower, then rest again. People say that the plant dies after it flowers because they don't realize that it just went into resting. It is also a myth that cutting off the flower will stop it from going dormant.
Sometimes it can be hard to "revive" the plant. It must have stored enough nutrients to pull through. Kind of like hibernation. So your plant will probably do this in a little while. Whether or not it comes back depends on the type of care it had. Some people remove the bulb from the tank and store it in a cold, moist place in sand or soil, while other people just leave it in the tank. I have an Aponogeton ulvaceus that grew like crazy, then flowered twice, then went dormant. It is starting to send out new roots now, about 5-6 months later. I just left it in the tank, didn't do anything to it. Hope this helps.
Sometimes it can be hard to "revive" the plant. It must have stored enough nutrients to pull through. Kind of like hibernation. So your plant will probably do this in a little while. Whether or not it comes back depends on the type of care it had. Some people remove the bulb from the tank and store it in a cold, moist place in sand or soil, while other people just leave it in the tank. I have an Aponogeton ulvaceus that grew like crazy, then flowered twice, then went dormant. It is starting to send out new roots now, about 5-6 months later. I just left it in the tank, didn't do anything to it. Hope this helps.
Aponogetons in general but this more so that some of the others like cooler water. It'll grow etc in warmer waters but will putter out. If you keep it in cooler water, about 65-75F it'll grow like mad never stopping until 1/2 of your 90 gallon has been "consumed".
The flowers are self fertile so take a paintbrush/fingers etc and pollinate the flowers and wait for the seeds to form. The flowers are especially fragrant and one of the favorites of the genus.
Getting the seed to grow up is difficult somewhat since they are small and can be knocked around a lot till they grow and get bigger. Mainly an issue of patience if you want to grow them from seed.
A number of folks keep lace plants with goldfish and other cooler water fish.
One gal has a good sized one in a 55 gallon with 2x40w and a reflector and deep sand and 4 good sized goldfish. Been there about 4 years. I don';t keep too many from Echinodorus or the Apono's any more as they tend to get too big after a few months. Some do okay and I'm willing to put up with more for the lace plant but leaves will/can get to 24"+ and 6 inches across.
Regards,
Tom Barr
The flowers are self fertile so take a paintbrush/fingers etc and pollinate the flowers and wait for the seeds to form. The flowers are especially fragrant and one of the favorites of the genus.
Getting the seed to grow up is difficult somewhat since they are small and can be knocked around a lot till they grow and get bigger. Mainly an issue of patience if you want to grow them from seed.
A number of folks keep lace plants with goldfish and other cooler water fish.
One gal has a good sized one in a 55 gallon with 2x40w and a reflector and deep sand and 4 good sized goldfish. Been there about 4 years. I don';t keep too many from Echinodorus or the Apono's any more as they tend to get too big after a few months. Some do okay and I'm willing to put up with more for the lace plant but leaves will/can get to 24"+ and 6 inches across.
Regards,
Tom Barr