Plant suggestion needed

[psyche]

Hi there

I have two approximately 1-1.5 gallon bowls for snails (brown and red ramshorns).

I would like to grow a plant that will root in the gravel, but grow most of its folliage outside of the bowl and so not take to much water areas away from the snail colony. Something like a mangrove perhaps?

I need the plant to be amenable to being trimmed back or bonsais, and preferable something that won't completely destroy an undergravel filter.

It would also be cute if it was a plant that came in two color forms to go along with the snails

Any suggestions?

 

[mellowvision]

mangroves, some bamboos, hygro bold...

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Most plants from the genus Spathiphyllum will grow in water. Such familiar species you might recognize would be Peace Lilies.

 

[mellowvision]

oh yeah, a small water hiacynth might work with snails.

 

[SubRosa]

Spathiphyllums are commonly sold in LFS's as "Brazil Swords". My first choice in that situation.

 

[psyche]

Thanls for the suggestions. I will see what my lfs has. I like the lucky bamboo but it seems to be everywhere these days so I worry it will look "cheesy"

 

[mellowvision]

there are more varieties of bamboo than lucky bamboo, which look more natural.

 

[DeeSeven]

mangroves

mangrove trees or Rhizophora mangle aren't really suitable for bowls..they have a thriving root system and grow up to something like 80 feet

 

[psyche]

I have been told that some magroves can be trimmed and bonsaied by removing growing tips.

 

[Nora]

mangrove trees or Rhizophora mangle aren't really suitable for bowls..they have a thriving root system and grow up to something like 80 feet

While a red mangrove can reach 80 feet in the tropics they typically top out at around 20 in FL. 'Course that wouldn't do in a bowl either. Fortunately the seeds which are commonly sold (ebay has a number of sellers from Hawaii as they are now protected in FL) usually measure a mere 6"-12" and take several years to grow too tall for a bowl in a typical house. I have several that range from 1-2 years old, none are taller than 16" and they hold their own in a set up similar to the so called 'lucky bamboo'. They work as great biofilters in this type of set up too.

A note: When cutting don't cut below the first pair of true leaves - they don't come back from that (makes since as that is where the actual seed begins).