Anubias emersed journey..

[Kishore]

There are a few Anubias (nana and minima var.) in my tank. They stayed at the same size since I got them. Inspired by a youtuber, I set on to try my luck at growing anubias emersed.

The anubias plant is planted in a soil + vermicompost mix, in a glass jar. The jar is covered with a transparent wrap to preserve the humidity. Every morning, the jar is placed outside on my balcony wall in direct sunlight.

It's been 2 days since this whole thing started. I noticed that one big(not big literally, but the biggest) leaf has started to turn brownish. Could this be due to the transition from fully aquatic to immersed habitat?

I would love to hear some comment/opinions/ideas from you people.

The brownish leaf's picture is below

 

[Delapool]

Figures crossed that is all it is. Did the soil have any ferts? Will be following along to see how this goes. I would think there would be some transition.

 

[Angellove78]

Brown leafs are from too much light. Direct sun light is hot. Burns some plants. Try partial sun. Just not direct.

 

[Kishore]

Figures crossed that is all it is. Did the soil have any ferts? Will be following along to see how this goes. I would think there would be some transition.

The soil is actually a mixture of normal soil + vermicompost. That should contain the essential nutrients.

Brown leafs are from too much light. Direct sun light is hot. Burns some plants. Try partial sun. Just not direct.

Yeah, that might be the reason. Came home to find a few more leaves starting to brown up(i think?). I moved the jar to a new spot where it gets sun for about 2-3 hours in the morning. I think that'll do.

I opened the wrap and sprayed more water on the plant and replaced it with a new wrap. If I find the leaves to have taken a hit from the sun, I may toss plant into the tank and try this whole thing with a bigger anubias.

 

[Autumnsky]

Angellove78 is on target there with the info about too much light.

Also if you think of how plants grow in their natural environments, most of these plants are growing in shaded and lower dappled light. Some, almost no direct light = shade plants. Although they may get some direct sunlight it would not be midday light usually.

One additional point would be the tenderness of a plant used to being in water would be even more sensitive to bright, hot, direct light in a covered plastic wrap cooker. Heat would be increasing to very high levels in that specific environment.

If you start it out near a West or South facing window let it be near but not in a the direct sunlight, but as near as possible. For a couple weeks.

The plants will often get used to the environment and even could sprout a flower or 2!!!

(if you have East or North facing window, you could usually put it in the window sill as direct sunlight would not be heating it up.)

 

[Kishore]

Angellove78 is on target there with the info about too much light.

Also if you think of how plants grow in their natural environments, most of these plants are growing in shaded and lower dappled light. Some, almost no direct light = shade plants. Although they may get some direct sunlight it would not be midday light usually.

One additional point would be the tenderness of a plant used to being in water would be even more sensitive to bright, hot, direct light in a covered plastic wrap cooker. Heat would be increasing to very high levels in that specific environment.

If you start it out near a West or South facing window let it be near but not in a the direct sunlight, but as near as possible. For a couple weeks.

The plants will often get used to the environment and even could sprout a flower or 2!!!

(if you have East or North facing window, you could usually put it in the window sill as direct sunlight would not be heating it up.)

It is now near a east facing window that gets direct sun for about 2.5 hours in the morning. Then throughout the day, it doesn't get any direct sunlight. Morning sun does not heat it up. The plant's condition hasn't worsened but it has been the same, although there seems to be a bit more green. Will keep you guys updated when it shows signs of growth.
Is vermicompost enough for nutrition or should I dose any ferts?

 

[flitabout]

The dirt should be enough just remember that it will take some time to recover from being sun burnt and the leaves that are brown are basically dead so don't expect to much for a minute. Funny part is now I want to try that experiment!

 

[Kishore]

The dirt should be enough just remember that it will take some time to recover from being sun burnt and the leaves that are brown are basically dead so don't expect to much for a minute. Funny part is now I want to try that experiment!

It's a cool and easy project to try out. Even the new spot that I moved it to heated up the jar.

I moved it to another area where it doesn't get any direct sunlight at any part of the day. But this area stays well lit. I hope that the plant makes it here. It still has young, green leaves. Only a couple of leaves are sunburnt. I expect it to be up and growing very soon..!

I have never cared for a single plant this much in my entire life!

I took this photo while changing the plastic wrap and spraying water. I plan to do this every few days. That'll allow for a quick gas exchange and picture time to monitor the growth.

 

[Autumnsky]

You can use water from PWC.

For future projects maybe try keeping it under water for a week or 2 and then let the water evaporate away until not under water just emersed and it could be easier adjustment.

I might try this too. I have an assortment of starbucks cups and lids with plants and jars. Once tried a plant, name escapes me atm, tiny leaf carpeting, high light plant..., UG maybe, which all but one sprig died, think it needed more light.

Maybe will try A. Nana and Lugwigia.

 

[Kishore]

You can use water from PWC.

For future projects maybe try keeping it under water for a week or 2 and then let the water evaporate away until not under water just emersed and it could be easier adjustment.

I might try this too. I have an assortment of starbucks cups and lids with plants and jars. Once tried a plant, name escapes me atm, tiny leaf carpeting, high light plant..., UG maybe, which all but one sprig died, think it needed more light.

Maybe will try A. Nana and Lugwigia.

Thanks for the tip, I will keep that in mind. I maybe shocked my anubia, got it sunburnt. If this one works out, I will try with another plant keeping it underwater for sometime.

And I will also update when I see a nice young leaf out of the plant which I expect in a few days.

 

[Autumnsky]

Are you ever able to collect little snips of plants like Bucephalandra in the wild areas near you? I realize India is a big place and I don't really know where you are in comparison to where you might be able to get some plants from natural areas?

 

[Kishore]

Are you ever able to collect little snips of plants like Bucephalandra in the wild areas near you? I realize India is a big place and I don't really know where you are in comparison to where you might be able to get some plants from natural areas?

A search on wikipedia tells me Bucephalandra is endemic to Borneo. While it is commercially available for aquarists, to my knowledge, it is not found in the wild in India.

Google 'Western ghats'. It is actually a part of my state. Western ghats are one of the eight biological hotspots of the world. It has a vast biodiversity and hence is a UNESCO World heritage site. As a result, it is highly protected and one cannot even pluck flowers while visiting these forests.

Western Ghats

But I still think I can find some other plant species on the less-protected, outskirts of these forests.

 

[Kishore]

Okay, so the anubias didn't seem to improve. It stayed the same. I took it out and put it into the tank back. Now, I also have a relatively larger anubias that I originally wanted to try this whole thing with. I took that and put it into the jar to try the same. And as autumnsky suggested, I have a cm of water above the soil. Let's hope this out works out!

You can see the size differences of the two plants from the pictures. I think it is best to experiment things with the larger plant and then try the successful method on the smaller one.

 

[Autumnsky]

I would put the water just over the top of the plant and let it evaporate, and add a cover when the water starts to get to the green of the leaves. That would give the leaves time to grow and not bury the rhizome just roots. If I was trying it. You could set it over a small stone. To keep it out of the soil/ not buried.

Happy growing!

 

[Kishore]

I would put the water just over the top of the plant and let it evaporate, and add a cover when the water starts to get to the green of the leaves. That would give the leaves time to grow and not bury the rhizome just roots. If I was trying it. You could set it over a small stone. To keep it out of the soil/ not buried.

I followed your advice. The jar is filled with tap water although it would have been better to use the tank water. I will let it evaporate until it reaches the leaves. I haven't tied it to a stone. The plant already had roots of about 4-5 cm in length. Using forceps, I rooted it into the soil pretty well. The rhizome is above the soil, though.

 

[Autumnsky]

Sounds like it will have the best chance to adapt from water to land plant now (I think).

Watching intently. Though it may be awhile. My thinking here is that in the wild they get flooded during the rainy season quickly but may dry out more slowly in the fringe areas of the waterways.

Wishing you good growing and transition!

 

[Kishore]

Sorry, I forgot to update this thread. Autumnsky, it worked!

I filled the container with water submersing the plant.

After a few days, the water evaporated and the top leaf was out of the water.

Then, I sprayed some water and covered the plant with a transparent wrap to keep in the humidity. This morning, when I went to check for any growth, I think I say some. I can almost see a few sprouts with a lime green colour.

That top leaf is turning yellow. I expected it since it already started yellowing when it was underwater in the tank. Those bright green sprouts must be new growth. I couldn't take a better picture. If I manage to take one, I'll share it here. It would be great if they ARE new growth. I have been waiting for this for so long..!

 

[Autumnsky]

That is very good news. I would suspect there is new growth coming.

 

[Kishore]

YAY! It is definitely a new growth...!

 

[Autumnsky]

That's awesome! Looks nice. Water with the old pwc tank water.