[EDGE]

For those who have kept the plant. What requirement ie. nutrients/light/co2 did you use to keep the plant orange and robust?

 

[MiamiAG]

EDGE,

I've never kept this plant, however, orange pigmentation is the result of a build up carotenoids in the leaves. The amount of build up is dependent on the plant's sugar production in the leaf. Light is the single most important factor in plant sugar production so the more light, the more orange pigmentation.

I would recommend a high light, acidic environment for the plant to obtain its best orange coloration.

Good luck and remember to post pics!

 

[Raul-7]

True! This plant requires a lot of light, C02, and soft, slightly acidic water. Having slightly acidic is an important factor in keeping this plant orange and robust. When I kept this plant it began to lose it's lower leaves, and turn green(even though I had 3.1wpg). I began looking for info. and asking people on other forums, they told me that having acidic water is what causes this plant to stay orange. I had to give up it since, my water isn't soft/acidic enough for it's likings.. But lots of people say it grows like a weed for them! Good luck with it..

 

[EDGE]

I am a little iffy on the demand on the plant still. I notice the plant grew pale green and doesn't undulate even sitting directly under the light.

220 watt PC
pH 6.7-6.8
gH 3
kH 4
po4 1.5
no3 7-10

I increased the dose of micro nutrient recently. Hopefully, that will have help it grow a bit better. The new growth is dark brown, produce undulating leaves, and much closer internod, but the leaves are smaller in size.

I am dosing 5 ml of flourish/plantex every day with addition of 5 ml of Fe every couple days.

 

[ShaneSmith]

Carlos always recommends extremely high amount of Iron. I find it hard to force myself to dose it all but i do know that he grows everything he comes in contact with. I'm guessing you have a 75gallon or more with that amount of lighting so you should probably *I know it sounds crazy* but dose 70ml of flourish and flourish Iron weekly.

 

[EDGE]

Does anyone have any idea what causes the new leaves to curl downward?

It is happening to a couple of the stem.

 

[cS]

I wonder what the Na content of your water is. Na is particularly problematic in soft water. What are your tap water's GH and KH? Are you raising hardness with baking soda?

Ludwigia inclinata is pretty easy IME. Bringing out the color is clinical: low NO3 (~5 ppm), high PO4 (~1-2 ppm), and high traces. Try raising your GH 1-2 degrees.

you should probably *I know it sounds crazy* but dose 70ml of flourish and flourish Iron weekly.

This is why you should purchase commercial trace solutions in bulk or mix your own. DIY trace mix is very simple. :biggrin:

 

[EDGE]

tapwater content

0 gH
0 kH

2 teaspoon of baking soda

Dont know the salt content is in the tap water

 

[dennis]

What are the effects of adding NaHCO3 to your tank? I currently add enough to my 10 gallon to raise the kH 2`giving me a kH of 4-4.5`. I am unsure what my gh is. I also add about .25 ppm of Mg. I am not exactly sure why. At some point I fugured I should add a bit of it so I have been but it seems liek that is a negligable amount. I need to start learning more about traces

I do a 50% wc every week, have co2 (diy) 3 wpg and 11 neon tetras in the tank. It is planted with 3-4 bunches of R indica, couple bunches of L repens, 2 of Bacopa, 1 bunch of L. nunelaria (sorry I know I buchered that one) Some struggleing, but coming back Didiplis and about 10 small crypt wendtii. What do you think of the amount of Na that goes into my tank? Cuold it lead to problems?