AaronT

Here's a picture of my Lagenandra meeboldii 'pink'. Although it has leaves like a Crypt it has a rhizome much like an Anubias.

That Bacopa behind it is the Bacopa sp. 'Araguaia' that Dennis started a thread on. It's hard to see the red on the tops of the leaves because it's closing up for the night in the picture.

Cavan Allen

If only it stayed that size. It takes a while, but that's a very large plant. Striking and beautiful, but BIG.

AaronT

Yes, I should have mentioned that picture is of a baby plant. It can grow to be about 18" tall or so.

Jane in Upton

How do you grow yours? Nearly a year ago, I had the good fortune to get some at a LFS to which Karen Randall occasionally brings her cuttings.

I scoured the internet for info on this plant, coming across many vague references that it was a Crypt relative, and two posts (not in English) in which it was classified or grouped with Anubias in a plant-by-plant contest rating. I had it in a moderate light tank like an anubas, but it didn't seem to be doing well. I thought it was the "planting" technique (I treated it like an anubias), so I moved it to another tank, and experimented by burying 1.5 centimeters of the oldest end of the rhizome. BAD MOVE! The whole thing fell apart within days. I hastily unburied the end and got it up away from the substrate as soon as I saw what was happening, but it was too late. I now think the planting method was fine (it had begun to put out a new leaf) but what it really needed was more light than the approximately 2.0 it was getting in that tank.

I'd love to try this plant again, so I'd like to know how you've grown it successfully, so I don't do another uninformed blunder. I'm still kicking myself.

Thanks,
Jane

AaronT

Jane,

I have it planted in Aquasoil Amazonia with the roots in the substrate and the rhizome above the substrate, just as you would plant an Anubias in the substrate. I do have high lighting on the tank and pressurized CO2. I've not seen much information on this plant myself. I only know of a handful of people who keep it...Karen Randall being the first in the USA.

Cavan Allen

Mine is in my 40 breeder under power compacts. I have Flourite, automated co2 injection, soft and acidic water (pH 6.3) and heavy ferts all around. I planted mine the same way Aaron did.

This plant was featured in a TAG article a year or two ago. I'll try to find the issue later when I get back from work.

Cavan Allen

I'd like to add that it doesn't like being moved and shed its older leaves both when I first added it to my 30 gallon and when I moved it to my 40 breeder. Once it settles in, it should be fine.

Jane in Upton

Ah, I'm beginning to see where I misread the signals! I DID have it with the longer anchor roots in the substrate, but the rhizome above (on a sliver of slate), and there was a new leaf emerging. But the older leaves were melting (very crypt-like) so it confused me. I should have just left well enough alone, but I got nervous (I usually do really well with crypts, they like my tanks) and moved it. That move, coupled with the "experiment" was unfortunate. When I uprooted it, there WAS a lot of new root growth. (*kicking self once more*).

It sounds like it needs more light than most anubias, too.

Well, I'll know next time, if I get the opportunity again. Chalk it up to the learning curve.

Thanks for all the information! I wish the timing had been different, so I could have known to pick YOUR brains before doing my blunder-move. Oh well.

Thanks! This is an interesting plant!
-Jane

Cavan Allen

The TAG issue with the article I mentioned is July-September 2002. The article is Lagenandra - How I Found It by Madan Subramanian.

Based on the article and other information I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if the plant in question is another species than L. meeboldii.

Jane in Upton

I'll go see if I can read that.

As to the ID - is it because the pictures are so different, or the description?
Its more than just the emersed/submerged difference, right?

Off to see if I can get the article.
-Jane