S. Repens suddenly turning yellow and holey

[Viggetorr]

I've had my S. Repens as a "carpet in progress" for about a year, and they've been grouwing veryy slowly but surely. About a week ago I noticed the lower leafs started turning yellow and holes appeared in them. I removed them, but the problem reappeared two days later, see pic below.

Does ayone have an idea why this problem suddenly appeared, and what I could do about it? It would be a shame to lose them all after growing them for so long.

The tank only contains lot's of plants, a colony of Neocaridina and some varieties of snail, none of which eat plants.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

. About a week ago I noticed the lower leafs started turning yellow and holes appeared in them. I removed them, but the problem reappeared two days later, see pic below.

Looks like it may be magnesium (Mg) deficiency, which causes <"interveinal chlorosis"> on older leaves.

Does anyone have an idea why this problem suddenly appeared, and what I could do about it?

Has anything changed recently, like a <"different water supply"> or fertiliser regime? If it has? I'd go back to what you were doing before.

Because these are mobile nutrients (any deficiencies effect older leaves) the plant may have been deficient for a while, but can continually re-cycle its diminishing store of these elements (nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) etc.) into the new leaves, but eventually there will be none left.

You could try adding "Epsom Salts" (MgSO4.7H2O), they contain ~10% Mg and are easily obtainable via ebay etc. You should get a pretty quick greening if magnesium was <"Liebig's limiting nutrient">. If it wasn't? You won't get any improvement in growth.

Personally I don't normally try diagnose nutrient deficiencies of the mobile plant nutrients. There are a lot of them, I just <"add all of them">.

.... In terms of the <"Duckweed Index">? If the Amazon Frogbit (Limnobum laevigatum) plants have pale older leaves and poor growth? I just add a complete fertiliser <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination"> and plant growth <"should pick up fairly quickly">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Viggetorr]

Hi all,

Looks like it may be magnesium (Mg) deficiency, which causes <"interveinal chlorosis"> on older leaves.

Has anything changed recently, like a <"different water supply"> or fertiliser regime? If it has? I'd go back to what you were doing before.

Because these are mobile nutrients (any deficiencies effect older leaves) the plant may have been deficient for a while, but can continually re-cycle its diminishing store of these elements (nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) etc.) into the new leaves, but eventually there will be none left.

You could try adding "Epsom Salts" (MgSO4.7H2O), they contain ~10% Mg and are easily obtainable via ebay etc. You should get a pretty quick greening if magnesium was <"Liebig's limiting nutrient">. If it wasn't? You won't get any improvement in growth.

Personally I don't normally try diagnose nutrient deficiencies of the mobile plant nutrients. There are a lot of them, I just <"add all of them">.


cheers Darrel

Thanks Darrel, that's useful knowledge! Nothing has changed recently, no, so nothing to go back to.

Regarding adding "all of them", is there any ready made solution for this available on the market? If not, I will try epsom salt!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Regarding adding "all of them", is there any ready made solution for this available on the market

<"TNC complete"> or <"Tropica Specialised Nutrition">?

There is <"nothing wrong with these">, but I'm not going to take part in the <"World's most Expensive water"> contest, so I use <"a hydroponic fertiliser">. I'm not sure what is available to you in Sweden.

cheers Darrel

 

[Viggetorr]

Hi all,

<"TNC complete"> or <"Tropica Specialised Nutrition">?

There is <"nothing wrong with these">, but I'm not going to take part in the <"World's most Expensive water"> contest, so I use <"a hydroponic fertiliser">. I'm not sure what is available to you in Sweden.

cheers Darrel

Ah, I've actually got a bottle of Tropica Specialised Nutrion at home that I've not found a use for so far. So maybe I should start dosing that?

Regarding hydropnic fertiliser, are you saying I could in the future replace aquarium fertilisers with basically any hydroponic fertiliser, or is there something in particular I should look for in the hydroponic fert? There appears to be a range of option available.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Ah, I've actually got a bottle of Tropica Specialised Nutrion at home ...... So maybe I should start dosing that?

Yes.

Regarding hydropnic fertiliser, are you saying I could in the future replace aquarium fertilisers with basically any hydroponic fertiliser, or is there something in particular I should look for in the hydroponic fert?

Yes, ideally really need one where the nitrogen source is mainly nitrate (NO3-), or urea (CO(NH2)2), rather <"than ammonia / ammonium (NH3 / NH4+)">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Viggetorr]

Thanks, I'll try daily dosing and see how it develops!