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  My method--warm pots/water for aquatic aroids
From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2007.02.14 at 20:12:47(15297)
Reply-To : Discussion of aroids
Sent : Wednesday, February 14, 2007 5:34 AM
To : Discussion of aroids
Subject : Re: [Aroid-l] warm pots/water for aquatic aroids

Dear Dan,

Thanks for the note! I really should have 'qualified' my note by saying
that what Enid did was AFTER she had followed my advice given in my article
in Aroideana, "Experiencing Urospathas', where I outlined my experiences
with my irreplacable aquatics being lost to exactly what you describe, the
potting 'soil'/mix rotting when submerged underwater.
In my article I outline my battle to overcome this, finally discovering that
by using 4"-5" of rocks/crock at the bottom of the pot, and then using a mix
with LITTLE 'soil' and mainly coarse sand into which I pot the plant ABOVE
this layer of rock/crock, and then placing these pots in LARGE saucers of
water kept no deeper than say 3", so that the 'soil'/mix is kept above and
so NEVER submerged underwater. You must hand-water until you see roots
emerge from the drain holes into the water, and fertilize with a weak liquid
fertilizer more frequently, and change the water on a regular basis to
prevent salt bulid-up. Dr. Birdsey used to submerge his pots (he used pure
coarse sand as a medium) completely underwater, and depended on his fishes
waste products for fertilizer.

If you can, look up and read the article.
Enid took this one step further by just using my method, but used a larger
'saucer'/container with circulating heated water, it is a fantastic method.
All richer 'soil' mixes (not really soil at all!) will rot if submerged.

Good Growing,

Julius

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From: "D. Christopher Rogers" <crogers at ecoanalysts.com> on 2007.02.15 at 17:10:08(15300)
Hiyer!

I really like this method, Julius! I plan on giving it a shot. Here is what
I have been doing so far:

In my greenhouse I have two 35-gallon aquariums. I put a layer of peat and
compost about 4 cm deep on the bottom, and then an 8 cm layer of fine sand.
Then I filled the tanks with R/O water, and add some Lemna, Wolfia,
Wolfiella and Spirodella. In this way, the sand traps most organic material
at the bottom, and what sneaks through or is generated is picked up by the
duckweeds. This helps keep algae to a minimum. I use no heaters or
circulation pumps.

I planted my Crypts and Anubias in the sand, and let their roots go where
they like. I have had one Crypt bloom, but other wise the plants just keep
dividing. The Anubias seem disinclined to spread, but like to flower. Maybe
if I used heaters and circulation pumps the Crypts would bloom more, and the
Anubias would grow and spread. Next experiment!

Grins,
Christopher

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