Hottonia Palustris keeps melting in the bottom though growing nicly at the top. - APE - Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts

EQUINOX · 01-08-2010, 10:21 AM

Hey guys,
I had this plant for quite a while now.
I know it's a spoiled little thing but there's no way I can tell what I'm doing wrong.
The problem with it is that it slowly melts in the lower parts, where it is planted, and if I'm lucky it keeps clinging on thanks to some "air" roots which entered the substrate prior to the melting phase..
If not, it starts swimming in the tank.
On the top of side, it grows very nicely, and no shortages appear to my somewhat untrained eye..

So, what comes out of it is that this plant is going nowhere - melting down, and growing up!

Speculations:
1. Temp. Known to be finicky about it. Temp is kept at 24-26C though..
2. Nitrate. Finicky as well. But I keep it 10-15pps.. (Phos ~0.75).
3. Light! Though it's in the back of the tank, it is almost completely not shaded aside from its own shoots, with a 54W HO T5 Giesemann Aquaflora with a reflector (shaded by other light bulbs by a Pogostemon Stellatus). And in case, I have never seen a plant that get such good conditions on the top, and acts so ill at the bottom! The Whole tank is 240L with 216W..

CO2 2-3Bps, PH ~6.4 and I'm filling 100% RO water lately with (tap water before).

KH - 5

Any suggestions?!

P.S. I'll try shooting some photos soon.

AquaZilla · 01-08-2010, 11:51 AM

Substrate? What do you mineralize your RO with?

OH! Welcome to APE

EQUINOX · 01-08-2010, 12:10 PM

Substrate is Elos Terra small size grain. You know it? It's great.
Fertilizing with DIY Phos, Potassium and Nitrate, Iron (EDTA and gluconate mix) also Micro by EasyLife and Excel or Kent Grow every other day.

Thanks for the welcome.

AquaZilla · 01-08-2010, 12:47 PM

How do you plant these stems? Are you cutting the leafs off the bottom and only planting stems without submerging leaves? I hope that makes sense?

EQUINOX · 01-09-2010, 09:41 AM

If by "submerging" you mean the plant the stem with leafs attached, in the substrate, then yes. Was that what you meant?
I haven't taken off the leafs prior to planting.
Do you think it would make a difference?
I'm not sure it would since the stems are melting outside the substrate as well.

AquaZilla · 01-09-2010, 10:08 AM

I would start by removing leaves from the bottom and only plant stems. Leaves being buried will only rot and may be the problem here. Or maybe your stems were grown hydroponically at the nursery and are having a hard time transitioning.

EQUINOX · 01-09-2010, 02:31 PM

Thanks for the advice about the leafs.
The plant itself was cut from a friend's tank where it grows under extremely well conditions.

AquaZilla · 01-10-2010, 03:36 PM

Maybe due to different environments/change? How about a photo?

01-08-2010, 10:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
EQUINOX Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	Hottonia Palustris keeps melting in the bottom though growing nicly at the top. Hey guys, I had this plant for quite a while now. I know it's a spoiled little thing but there's no way I can tell what I'm doing wrong. The problem with it is that it slowly melts in the lower parts, where it is planted, and if I'm lucky it keeps clinging on thanks to some "air" roots which entered the substrate prior to the melting phase.. If not, it starts swimming in the tank. On the top of side, it grows very nicely, and no shortages appear to my somewhat untrained eye.. So, what comes out of it is that this plant is going nowhere - melting down, and growing up! Speculations: 1. Temp. Known to be finicky about it. Temp is kept at 24-26C though.. 2. Nitrate. Finicky as well. But I keep it 10-15pps.. (Phos ~0.75). 3. Light! Though it's in the back of the tank, it is almost completely not shaded aside from its own shoots, with a 54W HO T5 Giesemann Aquaflora with a reflector (shaded by other light bulbs by a Pogostemon Stellatus). And in case, I have never seen a plant that get such good conditions on the top, and acts so ill at the bottom! The Whole tank is 240L with 216W.. CO2 2-3Bps, PH ~6.4 and I'm filling 100% RO water lately with (tap water before). KH - 5 Any suggestions?! P.S. I'll try shooting some photos soon.

01-08-2010, 11:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	Substrate? What do you mineralize your RO with? OH! Welcome to APE __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

01-08-2010, 12:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	How do you plant these stems? Are you cutting the leafs off the bottom and only planting stems without submerging leaves? I hope that makes sense? __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

01-09-2010, 10:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	I would start by removing leaves from the bottom and only plant stems. Leaves being buried will only rot and may be the problem here. Or maybe your stems were grown hydroponically at the nursery and are having a hard time transitioning. __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

01-10-2010, 03:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	Maybe due to different environments/change? How about a photo? __________________ The Planted Aquarium Blog

01-08-2010, 12:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
EQUINOX Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	Substrate is Elos Terra small size grain. You know it? It's great. Fertilizing with DIY Phos, Potassium and Nitrate, Iron (EDTA and gluconate mix) also Micro by EasyLife and Excel or Kent Grow every other day. Thanks for the welcome.

01-09-2010, 09:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
EQUINOX Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	If by "submerging" you mean the plant the stem with leafs attached, in the substrate, then yes. Was that what you meant? I haven't taken off the leafs prior to planting. Do you think it would make a difference? I'm not sure it would since the stems are melting outside the substrate as well.

01-09-2010, 02:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
EQUINOX Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	Thanks for the advice about the leafs. The plant itself was cut from a friend's tank where it grows under extremely well conditions.

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