Cabomba - red-brown tips?

[TonyN]

Lately, the new growth on my Cabomba has been coming in with a reddish brown color. This was listed as Cabomba Carolina when I ordered it. It eventually turns green as more growth comes in, but the tips are always reddish-brown. Also, its growing so fast, I have to trim it down about twice a week.
Is this normal - any thoughts?

Thanks,

 

[plantbrain]

It takes a little time for the chlorophyll to form enough to cause green color in new growth. So you see the other pigments and this gives a red, yellow color.

Add some KNO3 and it less light and it'll turn green.
Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[TonyN]

Ok - Thanks

 

[djlen]

I have always regarded what you report as a good sign.
For me, red growth on new shoots means the plant is happy.

Len

 

[TonyN]

Oh. Well, thats good to hear. They sure are growing like mad.
Say, since we're on the subject of Cabomba, maybe you can answer this: Right now it is a little after 9:00 pm here in CT, and every night about this time the Cabomba close up, even though all the lights on the tank are still on. I would understand them closing up if I turned the lights off, but obviously they are working off some kind of internal clock that has nothing to do with light.
Does that make sense?

 

[djlen]

Yeah, I start to 'close up' when I'm getting droopy too. How about you?
Actually, they get scheduled to the photo-period and know when it's time for nighty-night.
Many plants do this, particularly stem plants.

Len

 

[cohazard]

Could you post a pic of your plant? I have Cabomba but thetips grow in dark green. My Ambulia on the other hand does get pinkish brown tips and grows much faster than the Cabomba.

You might've been sent Ambulia (it looks a lot like Cabomba) but I'm not sure.



Serg

 

[TonyN]

Len - Maybe I can figure out a way that they can turn the lights off themselves when they get tired.
Serg - I tried to take some pictures, but the brown color is just not showing up in the picture. Sorry.

 

[Leopardess]

Hope you don't mind me jumping in. My cambomba did the same thing when I had it. I ended up getting rid of it...but I did take a picture of it's red tips. Please excuse the quality, this pic was never meant to be posted as it was only supposed to be for personal reference! The red is actually paler in the pic than it was in person.

 

[TonyN]

Ok - Thanks for the picture. Your Cabomba was even redder than mine is. How much light did you have when that picture was taken? Also if possible do you know what your Nitrate level was?