Aponogeton Bulbs

I bought them at Wal-Mart. These are the first live plants ever. Do they need special care besides trimming and lighting?

 

They will neeed to be fertilized as well.
Any of the liquid fertilizers should to fine as directed.

Dino

 

Can I plant them and fertilize them later?

 

Ya go ahead plant them now, liquid fertilizer you put into the tank when the plant is already planted.

 

Yup, Aponogetons do need fertilization and good lighting as well. They're at least medium-light plants. When you plant the bulb, make sure that the root part is facing the bottom and that the crown part (where the leaves will begin to grow) is facing the light. Also, the crown cannot be buried under gravel.

 

Yup, Aponogetons do need fertilization and good lighting as well. They're at least medium-light plants. When you plant the bulb, make sure that the root part is facing the bottom and that the crown part (where the leaves will begin to grow) is facing the light. Also, the crown cannot be buried under gravel.

Huh? How can I tell whaich side is the crown and which is the root?

 

I have it somewhere in my books; if I find it, I'll let you know.

 

I bought some aponogetons for my 10 gallon tank.  Only one of them decided to grow so far.  I hope you have better success.  At any rate, I just dropped mine in the tank.  When I saw the roots starting to grow, I just planted it root side down.  It is doing great.  I was never told that they needed fertilized.  I thought they just ate the waste from the fish and their food.  Why do they need fertilized? ???

CherryRose

 

OK, folks, I checked my book (Aquarium Plants Manual by Barron's), and here is what I found about Aponogetons and their planting and care:

Firstly, Aponogetons do not have normal root systems like, for example, stem plants (such as Echinodorus, which is the Swordplant) have. Aponogetons have storage organs instead, that are called tubers. Tubers have to be planted so that the point where the leaves sprout is still clearly visible. Only half of the bulb should be covered by the bottom material (and/or gravel). Aponogetons are shallow-rooted plants and they do best when set in wide, shallow depressions in which you can spread out the roots slightly. Aponogeton tubers, which you will have bought during their resting period, have no leaves. For this reason, it is quite important to place them in the correct position in the ground/gravel. The "eyes", from which the leaves sprout, have to be on the top side when planted; otherwise, the plant will not take root. After the plants are set, Aponogeton tubers sprout quickly and grow and bloom in great abundance, given favorable conditions. After about 8 months, they cease to grow and gradually lose all their leaves; they are contracting. When that happens: (1) Leave the tuber in the aquarium; after several weeks it will usually put out growth again; (2) If no new leaves have appeared after 2 months, dig up the tuber and let it lie on the bottom material (gravel) for several weeks. It will put out growth again after it is replanted. Do not allow the fish to nibble at the tuber under any circumstances.

This is about all of the most important information that this book has on Aponogetons. I hope this helps you.

 

Thanks! The plants is growing really well.

 

There are a LOT of different Aponogetons. The ones that I have had and continue to have, have all been beautiful. The one that I still have was bought in a package of bulbs at Walmart and it has large rusty colored kind of heart shaped leaves that are pointed instead of rounded. They are gorgeous but they grow to the top of the tank and have to have the leaves pulled every now and again. They keep putting out more leaves though and the fish love to lay on them as they are so graceful that they kind of wave in the water and rock them.

Rose

They are the rusty colored taller plants to the right of the pictures.

 

Your plants look great Rose

 

Last summer I got five aponogeton bulbs and only one grew. It got really big, but a couple of months ago all the leaves fell off. Now a couple of leaves grew back, but they are really short. Why did all the leaves fall off? Will it grow back like how it was before?


Thanks,

*Hannah*

 

Many bulb plants go thru a period of dormancy. Actually you could take the bulb out and let it rest for awhile. My large crinckly leafed thingy bulb just did that. I dried it (partially) and have in the the fridge for a couple of more weeks. Hopefully it will regrow later.

 

Good advice above from Ted. Most Aponogeton varieties actually NEED the dormant period. The only one I'm aware of that doesn't absolutley need the dormant period is Aponogeton Rigidifolius.

 

If I don't take out the bulb will it die? Can I just leave it in the tank? If I do take it out how long would you suggest?

I got ten more bulbs I am hoping to get better luck with them. So far three or four of them already sprouted in just two days.

Thanks for the quick answers.

 

You can leave the bulbs in the tank. They will start to regrow when they are ready. (sounds like one of yours is regrowing). Not all of the bulbs that you buy are viable so you will get some occasionally that will never grow. You may be able to return the ones that havn't grown & get them exchanged if they were from a mail oreder outlet.

 

I bought 6 "bulbs" out of a tank at Walmart. The clerk said she thought they were just dead plant and sold them to me for $.99 (all 6) This is one of the bulbs just over a week in a NPT with ^ lighting and ferts.

 

Wow, it grew that big in just a week? It is a really pretty plant too. Do you know what kind it is?

 

I bought 6 "bulbs" out of a tank at Walmart. The clerk said she thought they were just dead plant and sold them to me for $.99 (all 6) This is one of the bulbs just over a week in a NPT with ^ lighting and ferts.

How many hours of light did you give your plants?

 

WOW that thing is gorgeous! Nutter, plant id? please? : )

 

Best guess would be Aponogeton Undulatus.

 

That's what I think also. It's alittle bigger now and has a few more leaves. I had to move some swords because the leaves are so light they topple over and cover whatever is under them. I do use 300 watts of 6500k CF lighting on a timer for 9 hours a day and ferts of flourish and flourish iron for the red plants. It is in a 55 gal tank.

 

That's what I think also. It's alittle bigger now and has a few more leaves. I had to move some swords because the leaves are so light they topple over and cover whatever is under them. I do use 300 watts of 6500k CF lighting on a timer for 9 hours a day and ferts of flourish and flourish iron for the red plants. It is in a 55 gal tank.

wow 300 watts!
My 10 gallon only has 28 watts cfl 5000K

 

That's good over 2 watts per gal. I have 6 tanks all with different lighting to experiment with plants and animals. My tanks range from 1.5 up to 4 watts per gal. Actually 1 is just in a bright window just getting sunlight (just for the past week)

 

That's good over 2 watts per gal. I have 6 tanks all with different lighting to experiment with plants and animals. My tanks range from 1.5 up to 4 watts per gal. Actually 1 is just in a bright window just getting sunlight (just for the past week)

I believe Nutter once told me the WPG rule doesn't apply to 10 gallon or under...

 

I've heard that before. That's why I'm experimenting with the 10 in the bright window.

 

I believe Nutter once told me the WPG rule doesn't apply to 10 gallon or under...

Correct. Here's a link that gives a basic explanation of the logic behind it:


Basically it is as simple as there is a minimum amount of light that certain plants need to grow. Once the tank gets to less than 10gal the maths just doesn't add up to give intense enough light to support plant life.

IMO the WPG rules are pretty much useless anyway. I only use them because it is easier for people to follow what I'm talking about.

 

WOW Nutter, I'm impressed with the article. As I have Only been doing NPT's for the past 3 months I'm still playing with lighting. I only use 6500K or higher. 6500K seems the easiest and cheapest to find in my area. I'm going to try to figure out the lux values in my 2 55 gallon tanks just for courisosity. So far I haven't lost one plant in any of my tanks so I must be doing something right. Plus they are all growing well. Only have 4 red plants and the color is bright. Thank you for the link. ;D

 

I hesitantly bought some of these little bulbs at Petsmart 4 days ago I have been wanting an aponogeton ulvaceus in my tank ever since I saw one for the first time months ago! I decided to go ahead and spend the 3 bucks compared to almost 20 for a plant and give it a shot so I bought these bulbs but I am not quite sure which type of Aponogeton plants they are but two of the three bulbs are already sprouting!! I have read these plants grow quickly and can't wait to see which type they end up being and keeping my fingers crossed fore the ulvaceus!

If anyone has purchased these and may know I'd like to hear... if not then I guess it will all be a surprise once they begin to grow

Ashley

 

They are really cool little bulbs. Sometimes they grow and sometimes they don't. Glad your having good luck with them.
Carol

 

Be sure you don't let the non-sprouting one rot. If it doesn't come up pretty soon, take it out. The packaging often says to give it 30 days, but your water will be really foul by then.

That's good luck though! I've had 1 out of 20 sprout successfully.

 

Do you know which type of aponogeton it was that you had sprout?

 

The bulbs are all different kinds. I have had 3 types of Apponogent from two different stores (WalMart and PetSmart) and 5 different packs. Its luck-of-the-draw really.

 

Undulatus

I think they're either undulatus and crispus hybrids. I've read they prefer fast currents, I'm begining to believe this because the ones in my 15 gallon are MUCH MUCH larger and healthier than ones in my 5 or 10 gallon that don't have a large pwrhead current.

Save and photocopy that receipt, If after the first week of being submerged they have no sprouts, bubble bag them and return them to the address on back of carton. You should receive new ones in 2-4 weeks

 

Last weekend as a fun little experiment, I bought a back of "betta bulbs" from Petco. They are beginning to sprout this week. What direction should I plant them in the tank? Sprouting side up?

I have no idea what variety of aponogeton they are yet. It will be a surprise. Hopefully they will get bushy enough my betta will not longer be mad I had to trade-in his favorite plant.

 

definitely spouting side up. Once they start growing they grow pretty fast so your little guy should be pleased with you. It seems I only have one now. Started out with 3. It just started growing again after being dormant for at least a year. Mine is more tall than bushy though. If you have several planted fairly close together they should be bushy enough for him.

 

How big is that tank you put those Betta Bulbs in? Those bulbs are likely Aponogeton Ulvaceus, and will get MASSIVE once they get growing. I had just one bulb completely take over a 10 gallon aquarium and here is a single bulb in my 30 gallon tank when it was first set up, it was that huge plant in the middle. They will even flower for you and will enter dormancy in a few months time, so keep that in mind. Also it is a great idea to trim some of the leaves once in a while at the leaf base if they get too out of hand. Great plant to have though!

 

How big is that tank you put those Betta Bulbs in? Those bulbs are likely Aponogeton Ulvaceus, and will get MASSIVE once they get growing. I had just one bulb completely take over a 10 gallon aquarium and here is a single bulb in my 30 gallon tank when it was first set up, it was that huge plant in the middle. They will even flower for you and will enter dormancy in a few months time, so keep that in mind. Also it is a great idea to trim some of the leaves once in a while at the leaf base if they get too out of hand. Great plant to have though!
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I have a 5.5 gallon tank. Hopefully an occasional trim will keep it from getting too out of control. If not, I can always trade it in at my lfs. In the previous saga of plants I bought that grew too large was a tiger lotus. It doubled in size every 24 hours. Louie loved his tiger lotus.

I find that plants people consider "easy" have issues in my hard water. So, I just try plants to see what grows and what doesn't.

It is rather entertaining that the package the bulbs came in said the minimum tank size was a quarter gallon.

 

I have a 5.5 gallon tank. Hopefully an occasional trim will keep it from getting too out of control. If not, I can always trade it in at my lfs. In the previous saga of plants I bought that grew too large was a tiger lotus. It doubled in size every 24 hours. Louie loved his tiger lotus.

I find that plants people consider "easy" have issues in my hard water. So, I just try plants to see what grows and what doesn't.

It is rather entertaining that the package the bulbs came in said the minimum tank size was a quarter gallon.

The Aponogeton should give you no trouble with growing well, but that will become a different kind of trouble for you with growing too much! These will grow faster than even a Tiger Lotus and it took over my old 10 gallon tank in less than 2 weeks after planting. I found a really old photo of my 10 gallon tank with one of these. I could definitely "see" putting one of these Aponogetons in a 1/4 gallon tank, that is the funniest thing I heard all day!