Limnophilia Aromatica

16335 Views 67 Replies 12 Participants Last post by 4f1hmi, Oct 12, 2010

bsmith

Discussion Starter · Jan 13, 2009

I find it very strange that the same plant can vary so much in color. I have one bunch of LA that has been in my tank for a couple of monts. I bought it because I wanted a vibrant purple/pink/red contrast to all of the green in my tank. Well after a few weeks I found out that not all LA turnes this color. This specimin is a very robust limey green with 2" or so diameter stems and leafs. This plant is almos all the way to the surface in my 23" tall tank with no variation in leaf color from bottom to top.

Now I recently traded for some of the more "hypercolor" LA. This specimine has been in my tank for a few days and is roughly 5" or so from the substrate and is already showing some redness in the leaves. Along with the redness this plant also differs from the non "hypercolor" in that it is more yellow or not a vibrant green as the othere LA.

I leaned out my nitrates trying to ge the origonal plant to color up to no avail. I think some ppl believe that this plant will only color up with low Nitrates. I am going to prove that this is not true and after only a few days I can see that it will not be hard at all.

Also does anyone know what is the deal with the variance from one plant to another (cavan)???

When get home ill post some pics.

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bsmith

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 13, 2009

Here are pics to help display what I am trying to convey.

This is the origonal Aromatica nice, green but no red hue whatsoever.

The new Aromatica much lighter in color but already showing some redness.

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Zapins

· #3 · Jan 13, 2009

LA is a strong flower reproducing plant so there is plenty of genetic variety out there. I think you are quite right in that most of the color is genetically predetermined. However, low nitrates, high light and high iron will definitely bring out the reds in any variety.

I find it a bit odd that the green LA has no variation of color at all, usually the top and bottom of the leaves are a different color.

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 13, 2009

My thoughts exactly.

From the experience I have had with this particilar variation there is no way it is going to turn red or any shade other than green no matter what. I have tried leaning nitrated down to 5ppm (with a un calibrated test kit) but still... dosed more iron and I have 130w of pc light and 36w of no t5 light over the tank (37g 23" tall) so I think that would be classified as higher light.

Zapins said:
LA is a strong flower reproducing plant so there is plenty of genetic variety out there. I think you are quite right in that most of the color is genetically predetermined. However, low nitrates, high light and high iron will definitely bring out the reds in any variety.

I find it a bit odd that the green LA has no variation of color at all, usually the top and bottom of the leaves are a different color.

Zapins

· #5 · Jan 14, 2009

Purely out of interest can you take another picture of it close up?

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 14, 2009

My cameras rechargeable batteries are about done. Ill try my best.

Zapins said:
Purely out of interest can you take another picture of it close up?

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 14, 2009

Here are some more close up pics of the two.

The origonal (no color).

The new (red hues)

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ashappard

· #8 · Jan 14, 2009

whats your GH?
sometimes I deal with L.aromatica that won't color up by upping GH and micros after a big water change. Unless there are sp. in the tank that dont like quick changes to parms. I try not to mix picky stems with weedy ones for that reason.

I'll agree that L.aromatica is variable in color, but I'll also say it is very pliable.

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 14, 2009

Im betting the farm that the origonal LA will not change at all and the new LA is going to have purple undersides to the leaves within a week. All with the same parameters.

Then after this hopefully happens I will see what intensifies/dullens the colors.

I need to calibrate my nitrate kit...

ashappard

· #10 · Jan 14, 2009

when the weather breaks (freakin cold this week)
would you be willing to send me a few of the green stems and I can try to color them up?
I could post pics / parms / regime / handle shipping and stem costs etc.

as an experiment. I think I can coax color out of it.

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 14, 2009

I would be more then happy to. What are you tank params/specs?

ashappard said:
when the weather breaks (freakin cold this week)
would you be willing to send me a few of the green stems and I can try to color them up?
I could post pics / parms / regime / handle shipping and stem costs etc.

as an experiment. I think I can coax color out of it.

ashappard

· #12 · Jan 14, 2009

bsmith782 said:
I would be more then happy to. What are you tank params/specs?

soft water and regular water changes are the only constant. Otherwise, macros and micros based on sp. mix. my regimes are more about how much fertilization I add and when I change water, so its EI method. I add CO2 by misting.

I'm a fan of UV and excel in growout tanks. Sorry I don't have or use test kits. I'm pretty good at tracking observations and actions though, and I see more value there. I do have a TDS meter and can measure temp. That's about as scientific as I can get right now.

I get with you by PM we can arrange a few stems of the green Limnophila to test with. I think it'll be fun and hopefully useful.

Zapins

· #13 · Jan 14, 2009

You know... Come to think of it I remember that at one point my LA also went completely green like yours. I can't remember the specifics of what happened, but I remember that it was stunted for a while and then I think I added potassium and it suddenly grew out extremely green with no color and became very bushy. It looked very much like yours does. I have pictures but I can't remember 100% if it was potassium... hmmm...

vancat

· #14 · Jan 14, 2009

In my 72g CO2 injected tank, I have the same bright green limno. I took cuttings and put them in my non-CO2 20g long and they turn red (at least the ones directly under the lights do). The 20 is obviously much shallower. Not that there aren't other variations.

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 14, 2009

I dose your normal EI (nitrate, potassium and phosphate) with Excel when I feel like it normallay after water changes. My micros come from either TPN or Flourish, again whichever I feel at that time.

jmontee

· #16 · Jan 14, 2009

My LA is now a deep intense red and I couldn't tell you why. The new shoots come out bright yellowish green with a little red underneath and then as they get to about 4 inches from the top they go almost all red. It's pretty amazing but after a while it starts to lose bottom leaves and fouls up my tank. I use EI dosing, injected CO2 w a reactor. kH=3 to 4, GH=4 to 5.

I'll see if I can post a pic tonight.

ashappard

· #17 · Jan 14, 2009

I'm hoping I can demo this when I get some of bsmith's green L.aromatica -- I group this stem in the category that responds well to a shock, not a bad shock but a rapid change in parameters maintained for a while. I suspect that I can drop it into a tank with clear water (low TDS and no ferts) then starve it a bit. Before it suffers bring up macros / micros / GH in a planned regime. It should respond with color. We'll see. Experimentally I have done it with a few sp. and a 3rd party test subject would be cool. Hopefully I can have it remain green for a while, then purposely switch its color. None of this is earthshaking or original, I just hope to demonstrate it as a repeatable process.

to tackle this subject :

My LA is now a deep intense red and I couldn't tell you why

my LA also went completely green like yours. I can't remember the specifics of what happened...

and so forth.

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 14, 2009

Dont you think that me having two sets of LA in the same tank one with no color and one with color kind of already prooves this unnessicary?

OR are you saying that the shock treatment is what this plant needs to get some color?

ashappard said:
I'm hoping I can demo this when I get some of bsmith's green L.aromatica -- I group this stem in the category that responds well to a shock, not a bad shock but a rapid change in parameters maintained for a while. I suspect that I can drop it into a tank with clear water (low TDS and no ferts) then starve it a bit. Before it suffers bring up macros / micros / GH in a planned regime. It should respond with color. We'll see. Experimentally I have done it with a few sp. and a 3rd party test subject would be cool. Hopefully I can have it remain green for a while, then purposely switch its color. None of this is earthshaking or original, I just hope to demonstrate it as a repeatable process.

to tackle this subject :

and so forth.

ashappard

· #19 · Jan 14, 2009 (Edited)

bsmith782 said:
Dont you think that me having two sets of LA in the same tank one with no color and one with color kind of already prooves this unnessicary?

OR are you saying that the shock treatment is what this plant needs to get some color?

I dont think you've given them enough time. If all things stay equal, all of the stems will look the same eventually. Thats my theory.

the idea behind the drastic change in parms is to force a change in the plant's appearance. keeping the change stable is the job of the regime afterwards.

bsmith

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 15, 2009

I don't know man I think you will have your work cut out for you...

New stuff coloring up nicely (less then a week in the tank).

Old stuff nice and green still no color (a couple of months in the tank).

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