[Aroid-l] Growing Aroids in Planted Ripariums

From: Devin Biggs <dbiggs at xantusidesign.net> on 2009.10.02 at 02:07:52(20134) Hi All, I have had a few years of experience growing plants in ripariums, an apparently new style of planted aquarium that features emergent or marginal aquatic plants. Of the various kinds of plants that I have used, aquatic and semi-aquatic aroids stand out as being especially attractive and useful for creating these decorative displays. I have a few recent pictures of my 65-gallon tank, which includes a handsome dwarf taro, Colocasia fallax, as a centerpiece. Here is a full-tank shot of this setup: http://hydrophytesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/26-ix-09-tank-montage-i-m.jpg This C. fallax is in fact a recent cultivar named 'Silver Dollar' that I acquired from Plant Delights Nursery ( http://www.plantdelights.com/ ) last spring. I also have the regular species C. fallax, but 'Silver Dollar' seems to grow somewhat larger. It is such a pretty plant. Here are a couple more pictures showing that specimen: http://hydrophytesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/scratch-colocasia-i.jpg http://hydrophytesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/scratch-colocasia-ii.jpg This riparium setup also incorporates as background plants a sweetflag, Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'. I understand that sweetflags are no longer classified in Araceae, but they are presumably close in evolutionary and in their own group, the Acoraceae. Here is a good-sized 'Ogon' in a riparium planter: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3444184940_9bd5cfe085_o.jpg Acorus gramineus is another excellent riparium plant. I have tried a few different wetland grasses and sedges in ripariums, but most either grow too large or develop messy, ratty foliage in riparium conditions. Sweetlflags, on the other hand, have tidy leaves that arch gracefully into the layout midground and evoke a grassy riverbank appearance. Here is another picture that shows this pleasing growth habit well: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3451291827_65d98c1c26_o.jpg Asiatica Nursery recently listed several "new"--these include "old and very rare classical cultivars"--A. gramineus selections, 'Cava', 'Isuzugawa', and 'Kin Gin Chu Ya'. These plants are right at the top of their aroids page (Available from: http://www.asiaticanursery.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.viewCategory/catID/73/index.htm ). I might have to add these to my collection, because I am fond of sweetflags. Anyway, I have thoroughly enjoyed searching for water-loving aroids and growing them in my ripariums. I have additional observations for a number of different plants and five other riparium setups that I can relate here too. Cheers, Devin +More _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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