Setting Up Emersed Propagator?

[Ps3Steveo]

I have a couple of questions with setting one up, I'm gonna be growing HC, Lilaeopsis, Pogostemon Helferi, Crypts, Pogostemon stellata, Limnophila Aromatica, Heteranthera Zoserifolia, Aponogeton Crispus Red and some different ferns. The questions I have are as follows:

1. How do you keep stems upright when growing emersed?

2. I'll be keeping the water line level with the top of the pots, I'm guessing growing emersed they get all the CO2 from the air and I'll just have to dose some ferts or do I not need to do that?

3. Keeping the stems moist I take it you just have to keep the humidity high?

4. where do I get some mineral wool lol?

 

[ian]

great idea Steve!

1. How do you keep stems upright when growing emersed?

This is when they will take their emersed form and stand up for themselves. They may appear to die first. Give them chance.

I'll be keeping the water line level with the top of the pots, I'm guessing growing emersed they get all the CO2 from the air and I'll just have to dose some ferts or do I not need to do that?

Why pots? Why not just use some soil and keep it moist (very wet), they will get all the C02 from the atmosphere, this runs around 300ppm! They will also use the traces from the water and soil.

3. Keeping the stems moist I take it you just have to keep the humidity high?

Just keep them covered and warm, and you'll be on a winner.

4. where do I get some mineral wool lol?

I'm sure Planted tanks or Green machine will be able to get some, but they will do best in soil.


ps i'm not sure the Limnophila will grow emersed??

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I wanna grow them in pots as I'm gonna start an ebay shop lol, I thought the Aromatica would be a great candidate as its a paddy herb and quite sturdy mate?

 

[ian]

you are probs right, have a go

SO19Firearms, maybe able to help out regarding the growing in pots, as he had his plants in pots. Andy also, pots his plants up.

 

[Nick16]

love the aromatica, i just used to trim mine purely to sniff it!

 

[SO19Firearms]

PM me your address and I'll send you some pots.
Growing stems might be a problem, give it a try and see what happens, but at some stage you have to bow to the fact you can't grow everything well emersed.
If you're selling them on, Rock wool will be best for the customer (They [ebay peeps] aren't ready for coir), you can pick it up from a local Hydro shop (just dont look guilty ) - TGM's hydro section is also a good bet, Grodan or something like that, you can cut it with a bread knife.
You wont need to add CO2 unless you really want them to fly, the emersed leaf is capable of dealing with 300ppm as the submersed is at 30.

If it's for fun - grow everything you can. If it's for cash - Grow HC

HTH

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I'm starting up growing everything in my journal tanks so quite a few species, will be selling them on to pay for my hobby lol might try soil in the pots?

 

[SO19Firearms]

might try soil in the pots?

Just make sure ebay peeps know they'll be in soil (unless you send them bare rooted) - They can be quite finicky with stuff like that when it comes to leaving feedback.
I sent a huge emersed fern once with one leaf covered in plantlets....I thought "How cool is that!" The negative feedback says I should have ripped it off

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Its cool, I'll prob have it on the description.

 

[SO19Firearms]

If you drop me your address m8, I'll put some pots in the post for you to get you started. I think I've got 1000 or so

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Cheers dude pm'd