Aponogeton - aquarium plants

When I was engaged in aquariums, I paid a lot of attention to aquarium plants. In my aquariums, I counted more than 130 species of plants. Sometimes, plants that live under the water, called - algae.

It is not right. Algae are the simplest, single-celled organisms, and we are talking about higher plants that have a root system, stem, leaves. Some of them bloom.

Many underwater plants can be converted to land form and vice versa. This is often used by those who grow plants for sale. This badly affects the quality of plants and the buyer, who does not know that a plant that is grown on land, needs to be very carefully and in several stages transferred to an underwater habitat.

Anubises, ekhinodorusy, which are sold in pet stores, if they are planted in pots, then I can give 80% guarantee that they were grown in hydroponics, and not in the underwater environment. These plants often get sick, but if you follow a number of rules, and this is light, heat, carbon dioxide supply, fertilizer, then everything will be fine.

I had various plants, but I loved working with plants - savages. These are plants that came from the wild.

My favorite plants were plants from the family. Aponogetonaceae.

I ordered the tubers of these plants and they were successfully delivered to me. I had five different species.

These photos were taken about eight years ago on a camera with a small number of pixels, but, at that time, it suited me.

I tried to propagate these plants. But, only one species, which got its name - viviparous, gave offspring.

The remaining species could be propagated in two ways.

The first method is the division of the tuber. The tuber must be cut at the growth point. The slightest mistake will lead to the death of the tuber, I abandoned this method. Tubers at that time were very expensive.

The second method is seed reproduction, the plant throws out an arrow, it looks like an arrow of bulb onions. On the arrow the flower blooms, which you can see in the photos.

In this photo you can see the arrow that rises up. These flowers had to be carefully pollinated with a soft brush and they should not be wetted. Moisture should not fall on the flower, otherwise the seed will not be tied.

I fixed the flower on a piece of foam, but, with the help of elastic for bills. I did not find a better option, but it was a mistake. Even a weak gum one day passed the arrow and the flower died. I did not wait for the seeds, but I gained valuable experience.

In the following photos you can see what size these plants are. Do not buy them for small aquariums. if the height of your tank is less than 50 centimeters. If it is higher, then it is even better.

Aponogeton ulvaceus

Aponogeton madagascariensis

Then I raised these plants from tubers.

Different members of this plant family have different leaf structures. They look very nice.

Aponogeton boivinianus

Do not be afraid to experiment, but try to provide any options for the outcome of these experiments. In any case, you are smarting more experienced than they were yesterday.

Author @barski
Moldova