Quality Of Plants

[Themuleous]

Hi All,

I've got thinking recently and was wondering if like fish there are different quality plants on the market? The ones I got recently (not from AE) have really struggling recently with, curled leaves, stunted growth and rotting stems (thought it could be low K so I'm adding that now, seem strange in a low light tank)

Current set up

eco-complete
CO2
lighting - 18w 3hrs, 54w 3hrs, 18w 3hrs = 9hrs total
AE trace weekly
Tank 23 USg

I just wondered if my cheapskate mentality might be biting me in the ass here and if there really can be a difference in the very quality of the plants that might be causing me problems? My main problems are with two types of rotala, both of which shouldn't be having any problems whatsoever in the tank but they very defiantly are. The tropica java fem by contrast is doing just fine under the lower light, slow but steady.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

I went down the Tropica road recently and bought HC, UG, and Micranthemum umbrosum. All were excellent (and a bit pricey), but the M. umbrosum was something else. It was intended for my 24l, so I floated it in my 60l for three days until it was ready to go in to its own tank. The plants were practically pearling before I put them in the water, and the growth over the three days was phenomenal.

I had so much left over after I had placed a few stems strategically around the 24l that I know have an unplanned bush of the stuff in my 120l. Doubtless I will continue to buy my algae busting stems from Greenline, especially the Rotala sp.

Most other plants take time to find their legs and start to grow and pearl, whereas the Tropica plants arrive all revved up and raring to go.

Dave.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

tropica plants don't die on me, pretty much everything else does!!

so i reckon there must be differences in quality

 

[Themuleous]

Just read this over on AE

The Tropica brand stands for plants with the best genetic properties. We know this from fruit. There are many “varietiesâ€￾ with different properties such as taste and appearance. It is less well known that this also applies to aquarium plants. Tropica has gathered hundreds of different species and varieties of plants. This is done by means of expeditions to the tropics, collaboration with botanical gardens or other producers of aquarium plants and development work at Tropica. We test the new plants and their properties. This may result in new good and exiting aquarium plants, but it is just as important to develop new varieties of old friends but with improved properties. These could be reduced light requirements or improved adaptability to differences in the water quality. Even if the plant has the same name, there could be a big difference in how well it grows in the aquarium. The continuous development carried out at Tropica ensures both new plants and improved quality in known plants – but also specialities bringing distinctiveness to the aquarium and the possibility of exiting experiences. The hereditary genetic properties are not always visible in the plant when it is sold but will be when it develops in the aquarium.

I guess the answer is yes then! Means I'll have to place yet another order with AE!

Think the interesting bit is this

The hereditary genetic properties are not always visible in the plant when it is sold but will be when it develops in the aquarium.

Is exactly what I was thinking, I know this is marketing waffle but there has to be some truth in it. After all, due to massive selective breeding, today's oranges only contain 12% of the vitamin C they did during the war, don't see what it couldn't be the same for aquarium plants.

Another reason not to buy from plantsalive!

Sam

 

[nry]

Well, I ordered my first ever Tropica plants from AE which should arrive tomorrow, hopefully they are as good as people say I've only ever seen Tropica plants at a LFS, but none there have taken my fancy so to speak!

 

[CdoGG]

Well, I ordered my first ever Tropica plants from AE which should arrive tomorrow, hopefully they are as good as people say I've only ever seen Tropica plants at a LFS, but none there have taken my fancy so to speak!

Sorry for being such a Newb , but what is AE ? I need to find a good place to buy plants.

Thanks
Chris

 

[Maximumbob]

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/

 

[john starkey]

Well, I ordered my first ever Tropica plants from AE which should arrive tomorrow, hopefully they are as good as people say I've only ever seen Tropica plants at a LFS, but none there have taken my fancy so to speak!

Sorry for being such a Newb , but what is AE ? I need to find a good place to buy plants.

Thanks
Chris

ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY only kidding it stands for AQUA ESSENTIALS ONLINE STORE

 

[George Farmer]

I've got thinking recently and was wondering if like fish there are different quality plants on the market?

Absolutely Sam. TBH I'm surprised you need to ask....

Tropica are without doubt the best I have ever used. This is no surprise to you I am sure and I know many others have similar experience.

I have also been impressed with Aqui Distri pots from my LFS, so long as they are fresh and not been in the holding tanks for too long.

Cuttings that many mail-order places sell less likely to do so well. These are typically grown submersed, and are not as adaptable to those grown emersed (like most Tropica pots). This may explain your experience.

BTW are you just dosing trace once per week? Rotala likes a nutrient-rich water column IME. You may also see better results with Tropica AquaCare Nutrition or Seachem Flourish.

 

[mlawson]

There is a notible difference in the quality of plants from online stores. I have ordered from atleast 5 and AE have always been the best, infact I just made an order today.

 

[vinylman]

Well, I ordered my first ever Tropica plants from AE which should arrive tomorrow, hopefully they are as good as people say I've only ever seen Tropica plants at a LFS, but none there have taken my fancy so to speak!

Wherever you get your Tropica plants, you won't be disappointed; I know some people baulk at the prices, but you really do get what you pay for. Some of their plants can be split and placed in different parts of the tank.

 

[mlawson]

Wherever you get your Tropica plants, you won't be disappointed;

You will sometimes, Pets at home sometimes keep their Tropica plants in terrible conditions left to rot. This is no fault from Tropica.

 

[vinylman]

Wherever you get your Tropica plants, you won't be disappointed;

You will sometimes, Pets at home sometimes keep their Tropica plants in terrible conditions left to rot. This is no fault from Tropica.

Ah, Pets At Home - your guarantee of quality....................

 

[George Farmer]

Wherever you get your Tropica plants, you won't be disappointed;

You will sometimes, Pets at home sometimes keep their Tropica plants in terrible conditions left to rot. This is no fault from Tropica.

Ah, Pets At Home - your guarantee of quality....................

Let's not get into a bashing thread, please.

 

[john starkey]

Well guys like my signature says if you buy cheap you buy twice, i will certainly be buying TROPICA PLANTS when i set up in mid april