Konsa
Member
Hi all
There is something that sorts of keeps me up at night and thought I will post a thread to see if I can get some insight on the matter.
I have been keeping planted tanks on and off for the best part of 30 years and always had some Cryptocoryne sp in the tanks.Nothing fancy or demanding usually. We know most Cryptocoryne sp are hardy and easy to care plants right.For clarity we are talking about the most easiest varieties available.
In my early days I had very hard water at 26-28 °C ,used very low light, sponge filters ,no ferts, plain fine sand and gravel and the Cryptocoryne (unknown sp and Balansae) were going mental.From a single stem of the smaller ones used to get morher plants with 12+cm rosettes with monstrous root systems (I had 50 cm wide tank with 2 motherplants in it and was able to lift the whole substrate clean out of the tank(I know thats alot of root ) and the Balansae was a tank buster.No issues with propagation whatsoever. Basically you put a stem of Cryptocoryne in your tank and in a year or two you will get a tank full.
Anyway I have grown ,gained knowledge and the hobby has developed significantly with all fancy and high CEC substrates entering the scene,better filtration and light systems, better understanding of plants nutrient needs and addition of various fertilizers and root tabs in our tanks.
Unfortunately the above didn't seem to improve my Cryptocoryne growing experience.
In fact is quite the opposite.While I have decent plant health in my tanks I am unable to achieve and propagate such large, strong mother plants.My Cryptocoryne doesn't have the monstrous root systems anymore either(I am using heavy water column dosing so maybe they don't need huge root mass)or propagate readily.
I was thinking maybe plant genetics so went on the hunt for Old school Cryptocoryne strain from a hobbyist(Will keep his identity private unless he desides to come forward).I found some that have been growing happily in a member's tank for the last 15 ish years and asked for some.Received gorgeous strong and very healthy plants.After few years in my tanks they not only have not propagated as rest of the species available on the market but they seem in decline not achieving the vigour they once had although they grow and seem in good health.
I have species that haven't sent a single runner for the last 5-6 years in my tanks no matter what I do while being in good health.
My Cryptocoryne sp list includes
C Albida brown
C legroi
C lutea hobbit
C wendtii both colour forms
C balansae
C beckettii
C petchii
C beckettii 'Petchii' hybrid
C nevelli
C spiralis (green form)
.......
2 unknown old school Cryptocoryne sp
Any thoughts on the matter much appreciated as I can't seem to get my head around it
Regards Konstantin
There is something that sorts of keeps me up at night and thought I will post a thread to see if I can get some insight on the matter.
I have been keeping planted tanks on and off for the best part of 30 years and always had some Cryptocoryne sp in the tanks.Nothing fancy or demanding usually. We know most Cryptocoryne sp are hardy and easy to care plants right.For clarity we are talking about the most easiest varieties available.
In my early days I had very hard water at 26-28 °C ,used very low light, sponge filters ,no ferts, plain fine sand and gravel and the Cryptocoryne (unknown sp and Balansae) were going mental.From a single stem of the smaller ones used to get morher plants with 12+cm rosettes with monstrous root systems (I had 50 cm wide tank with 2 motherplants in it and was able to lift the whole substrate clean out of the tank(I know thats alot of root ) and the Balansae was a tank buster.No issues with propagation whatsoever. Basically you put a stem of Cryptocoryne in your tank and in a year or two you will get a tank full.
Anyway I have grown ,gained knowledge and the hobby has developed significantly with all fancy and high CEC substrates entering the scene,better filtration and light systems, better understanding of plants nutrient needs and addition of various fertilizers and root tabs in our tanks.
Unfortunately the above didn't seem to improve my Cryptocoryne growing experience.
In fact is quite the opposite.While I have decent plant health in my tanks I am unable to achieve and propagate such large, strong mother plants.My Cryptocoryne doesn't have the monstrous root systems anymore either(I am using heavy water column dosing so maybe they don't need huge root mass)or propagate readily.
I was thinking maybe plant genetics so went on the hunt for Old school Cryptocoryne strain from a hobbyist(Will keep his identity private unless he desides to come forward).I found some that have been growing happily in a member's tank for the last 15 ish years and asked for some.Received gorgeous strong and very healthy plants.After few years in my tanks they not only have not propagated as rest of the species available on the market but they seem in decline not achieving the vigour they once had although they grow and seem in good health.
I have species that haven't sent a single runner for the last 5-6 years in my tanks no matter what I do while being in good health.
My Cryptocoryne sp list includes
C Albida brown
C legroi
C lutea hobbit
C wendtii both colour forms
C balansae
C beckettii
C petchii
C beckettii 'Petchii' hybrid
C nevelli
C spiralis (green form)
.......
2 unknown old school Cryptocoryne sp
Any thoughts on the matter much appreciated as I can't seem to get my head around it
Regards Konstantin
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