This journal is the start, the progress and the final results of this low-tec emersed set up when finished. For me, it's just a test. I want to know how the plants developed from submersed to emersed. When I have enough experience I'll take the next level: growing wabi kusa and will make a new journal for that. Meaby, if everything ends up well, I'll use these plants to provide myself with fresh material for my wabi kusa. I read a lot different forums, from different scapers and wabi kusa artist. Even some of them are participants in international contest. So I have the info from the first hand. But it's complicated... Because I've found out that everybody uses different techniques and different philosophy about emersed growing . So I try to combine the advice and use it in my setups. So I'm just kicking of: Technical details: - 3 plastic containers in the (north) window shell, with a transparent cover, with only natural light. - to keep the humidity high I've placed 1 cm water inside of the big plastic container - inside the container are little round glas and plastic cups - those cups are filled with ADA amazonia, soggy wet - temperature is approx 20 degrees celcius (day and night) Plants: 1 Alternanthera reineckii mini - in vitro 2 Ammania sp. "Bonsai" - in vitro - no pics yet beqause the plants died during transport 3 Rotala Rotundifolia - rockwool 4 Glossostigma elatinoides - rockwool 5 Marsilea hirsuta - in vitro 6 Rotala sp Green - rockwool 7 Hemianthus Callitrichoides - rockwool 8 Micranthemum Monte Carlo - rockwool note: The 'in-vitro' plants are still im emersed form! The plants with roots inside rockwool and with ceramic rings are usual submersed. I've read that those plant need a longer time with high levels of humidity. So the tricky part will be to combine those two... I filled each small cup with one plant species. The remaining plants I've devided in the rest of the other cups. Some of the Rotala Rotundifolia were too big, so I cut them in half and planted them also. I'm aware that I also could put the stem horizontal on the soil. So the roots will develop from the stem itself, but that would be the next step when I start a real WK. This is the latest pic: timelapse in grow. Set-up is 3 weeks now and still looking good. So, now I must be patient... I try to post here every week an update or pic so there will be a overview off the progress (or demolition) off the plants...
Menky All I can say is do every thing slowly and document it. Use the old saying "If in doubt don't" in other words ask here first. Looks like you are having problems with those photo can you remove and edit them. Keith
Small update because the plants are growing very slowly in de windowshell. But the quality is very good. Only the Rotala Rotundifolia is growing way to fast.
Final update; started 8 weeks ago with DSM conditions: - substrate: ADA amazonia + ADA amazonia powder - plantes are planted in glas and plastic cups - cups are inside a big plastic transparant container - with cover - no atartificial light - no heater - in window shell (northside) - temp daytime 20 degrees C - at night 15 degrees - first 4 weeks - only water spray for 2 times a day - week 5 - start fresh air - everydag for 15 minutes (cover at 80%) - week 6/7 - cover at 50% for 30 minutes - 2 times a day - week 8 - no more cover -fresh air voor 8 hours a day - 2 times water spray - at night box closed Growing speed: Alternanthera reineckii mini - normal Rotala Rotundifolia - way to fast Glossostigma elatinoides - slow Marsilea hirsuta - real slow Rotala sp Green - fast Hemianthus Callitrichoides - normal Micranthemum Monte Carlo - normal Quality: Alternanthera reineckii mini - good - color is pale Rotala Rotundifolia - stem is to long Glossostigma elatinoides - good Marsilea hirsuta - perfect Rotala sp Green - good Hemianthus Callitrichoides - good Micranthemum Monte Carlo - good Conclusions: The average quality was good. The Rotala Rotundifolia grows to fast and had to trim it a couple times. Next time I must give the plants earlier fresh air: I've seen some tainted leaves 'fungus' Roots have developed fine and the leaves look fresh and healthy. Only the Alternanthera reineckii has lost his color. The best quality plant is definitive Marsilea hirsuta; strong, steady, healthy and good looking Thanks for watching, cheers and some pics:
No thanks Keith, I'm still a noob in emersed growing and it's a learning moment for me. but I hope that it would be a little encouragement for people who want to start also a DIY
Small update: I've pruned all emersed grown plants and then discarded all of them With the remain cuttings I've planted 10 small slices of WK to see how this will develop. If they develop well I can possibly use them for my new nano-bak (in combination with a dry start) Keep you informed...
Menky You have wonderful growth in all of the other pots how long should it take to reach that standard of growth? Keith
Keith, To achieve this kind a quality and size I think it will take approx 12 weeks. Meaby if I use a heater, or a higher room temp, maybe a bit faster. But it's wintertime, so it's hard. Especially for Hemianthus Callitrichoides. So, I must have patience...
Menky I mainly grow garden plants now and some of the commercial growers are forcing the young plants along to get a quick sale and as soon as they are out in the open at the garden centers they do not look very healthy at all. Keith
Yes I know all about it. I've worked all my life in greenhouses (tropical ferns and orchids) and forcing the growing speed to make more profit. But in those days we usually tried to make a balance between quantity and quality. Only in time of 'contract orders' we often had to speed the growing process it up to reach the desired quotum. And when I visiting a garden centre I always can tell which plants are healthy or weak. Cause the eye of experience
Not much info. I've trimmed some Hemianthus Callitrichoides and put them under a bright bulb and the quality improves. All nice, fresh and beautiful green leaves. I can watch this all day long...
