hydrophyte

I recently started to experiment with the use of mineralized topsoil (MTS) in riparium planter cups. I hope that the use of MTS can serve the following objectives:

1. more attractive foliage
2. increased blooming
3. less demanding fertilization regimes

A major expected advantage of the mineralized topsoil is that it should maintain a long-term, slow-release nutrient source for the plants. It also might provide a broader range of nutrients than are easily provided in liquid fertilizers doses. The following picture shows the material that I used. I acquired this MTS in trade form torpedobarb, a forum member at The Planted Tank.



Proceeding through the steps of planting that I used, the next photograph features the planter cup with the basic substrates, but it still requires the rooted plants and a cap of planter gravel. On the bottom of the cup is a layer of Hydroton clay pebbles. These are topped with planter gravel filled to about 1/3 of the depth of the cup. Lastly, a shallow layer of mineralized topsoil was added on top of the planter gravel. I added 1 1/2 tablespoons MTS.



If you look closely you can see that the MTS layer is below the level of the suction cup keyholes in the back of the planter cup. Since it will be covered with another layer of gravel this placement will help to prevent it from washing out through the keyholes.

Here is the plant that I used, a few stems of Ludwigia repens. It forms a pleasing floating carpet if planted in the Hanging Planter, then trained to grow across a Trellis Raft.



This last picture shows the planter with all substrate layers, Trellis Raft and plant. The thick top and bottom layers of planter gravel should prevent the mineralized topsoil from washing into the aquarium. It will be even more tightly held inside the planter cup as the plant roots begin to form

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Hydrophyte

chillplants

You should put the same stems in another planter without MTS and put them in the same tank to see if there is any noticeable difference in growth, vigor, overall healthiness. Overall, I think you should see noticeable results with the MTS since this more closely resembles conditions in nature.

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125 gal

75 gal eel tank

hydrophyte

Wow! I knew that this thing was growing well, but I didn't have an idea of how large it had gotten to be until I pulled it out of my 55-gallon emersed crypts riparium. This is a C. wendtii ('Mi Oya', maybe[?]) in a hanging planter.



I found a stake in the planter dated June 14. So this is a little less than five months' growth. I remember that it was just a couple divisions with just a few leaves when I potted it up. Although I would need to do a more rigorous side-by-side trial for a more valid comparison, I can say that this is much better growth from this plant than I have ever seen when grown in straight gravel with MTS added to the planter cup. If you look closely at the planter you can see the shallow lens of MTS between layers of planter gravel. It looks like just about 1 1/2 tablespoons or so in there. The leaves also have much deeper color than any I have seen in comparison with plants grown without the MTS.

A second picture with spritzer for scale.



Here's more detail.

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Hydrophyte

Jdinh04

Hydro, that is awesome! I wonder how much weight those hanging planters can hold? I'm sure this has been asked already, but do you have hanging planters specifically made for sword plants?

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AquaZilla

Wow! Huge Riparium plant!

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