[Wet Thumb Forum]-Didiplis Diandra - General Aquarium Plants Discussions

imported_Rob · 09-14-2003, 04:58 PM

I have had this plant in my tank for some time now and it is really growing well. I just can't get any red out of it!!! When it was shipped to me it was a beautiful orange/red color but it soon changed to all green(even the tip) It is not insuficient light at almost 5 wpg. I use pressurized co2 and all the popular ferts (in copious amounts) and still no red. The plant even gets those small red flowers but that is all thats red. Any ideas?

imported_Rob · 09-14-2003, 04:58 PM

I have had this plant in my tank for some time now and it is really growing well. I just can't get any red out of it!!! When it was shipped to me it was a beautiful orange/red color but it soon changed to all green(even the tip) It is not insuficient light at almost 5 wpg. I use pressurized co2 and all the popular ferts (in copious amounts) and still no red. The plant even gets those small red flowers but that is all thats red. Any ideas?

2la · 09-14-2003, 05:31 PM

If it's like a lot of other red plants, you may need to drop your nitrates down to around 5ppm.

09-15-2003, 02:04 PM

Didiplis diandra completely red ???

I have yet to see this plant in red color. I can easly get orangish tips but not red.

2la · 09-15-2003, 02:12 PM

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply "completely red". I used the term "red plants" to indicate any of those plants that have the potential to color up under the proper conditions.

09-15-2003, 02:20 PM

I understood your comment 2la.

Either way, I have yet to see D. diandra with extensive red coloration. I think with low NO3 you won't be able to pull out too many red colors from this plant anyway. The only red you will see, is first couple nodes which will be darkkkkkk orange.

Please show me a picture of "red" D. diandra so I can rest my case

.

2la · 09-15-2003, 02:29 PM

Your case is already made, my friend. Again, I used "red" in a very loose sense.

Vicki · 09-15-2003, 03:16 PM

Mine was never more than pinkish at the tips; it wasn't under extremely high light, but it did very well, was covered with little red flowers. I actually preferred it that way, because the lovely light, almost fluorescent green is a very nice foil for red plants like rotala species, or even for the deep green of anubias.

http://www.wheelpost.com

imported_Rob · 09-15-2003, 04:52 PM

When I bought this plant it was sold as blood stargrass/ didiplis diandra. Could this be two different species? I would love to show you the red color but it isn't red anymore.

Homestar · 09-15-2003, 05:46 PM

Hmmm. I too recieved my shipment of this plant with purplish sections extending to the tips and green to the base. I also see this plant in "The Aquarium Center" in Randallstown, MD. I believe that someone there told me that they recieve their plants from Florida Aquatic Nurseries, Inc.
My suspicion, and it is only based on that - suspicion. is that they cultivate this plant in very shallow water and allow it to grow along the surface. At the surface the leaves turn deep purple and the lower, submerged portions turn green.
I base this suspticion on the notion that most of these nurseries grow our underwater species immerse and it is up to us to return them to their desired state of being (submersed). After we buy them

I would love to know if this theory on the Diduplis is correct. Thanks

Chris from Baltimore