Re: Growing Microsorium emersed Howdy!
It's fairly easy to grow java ferns emmersed. Windelovs are the easiest, as the submersed leaves seem to withstand drying very well. I just pluck new plantlets from my tank speciments and place them in a small pot with mostly clay (which holds water well) substrate. Just make sure the roots are covered with a thin layer of substrate and kept permanently wet. I think in temperate climes, the surrounding air should be kept sufficiently warm and humid (perhaps a glass hood over the pot? or keep the pot in a small covered tank?) Lighting should be medium, with little direct sunlight, or the leaves will scorch.
Microsorums are one the supposedly easy plants which a fair number of experienced aquascapers seem to have problems with. I find that as long you give them relatively cool water (25-28 C), medium lighting, a location with good water movement and good all round fertilisation (N especially and ample CO2), they easily take off within a few weeks of planting. I don't have Tropica, Philippine or red, but have Windelovs, normal and narrow-leaf forms. |