Alesha Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 I'm wondering about my crinum. When we first planted it in the substrate, we surrounded it by rocks and poured substrate all in the circle the rocks formed, so that the base of the crinum would be covered completely. Over time, though, with water changes and fish jostling around, the rocks have shifted away and the substrate has fallen to the sides, leaving the base of the crinum uncovered. Should we replant it? I know they really hate being uprooted and moved. I'm trying to find a rock with a hole that we could thread down over all the leaves to sit around the stem and protect it, but so far the LFS have nothing that will work. Any other ideas? Thank you so much! Alesha (akconklin) P.S. Sorry for the murky water. We're still trying to recover from the Levamisole treatments. 🙄😕 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Hmm, I've never owned Crinum calamistratum, but most bulb plant care sheets recommend that you rest the bulb on the substrate surface or only partially bury it to avoid bulb rot. If it keeps growing well, I would just leave it be since it looks pretty well-rooted. Great job with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 Thanks, @Irene. I wasn't sure if it was considered a "bulb" or not. So that helps. I will leave it be. I reeeeeally didn't want to start over with it. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChefConfit Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Mine has been growing the same way for months now and has shown any I'll effects. It's probably doubled in size in the last 2 or 3 months actually. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yannachka Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 i would leave it, the bulb portion itself doesn’t really need to be in the substrate, as long as the roots are holding it in place. ive actually had more success having the bulb above than in the substrate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy's Fish Den Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 the two that I have look just the same, the "bulb" is just resting on the surface and the roots extend down into the substrate. At first I kept trying to get the bulbous part down in the substrate more, but it kept coming out and then I heard that they don't like being moved, so I have left them alone now for a few months and are doing good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 What I want to know is it a water column feeder or root feeder @Daniel @cory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChefConfit Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 @Casual aquatics I believe it's a root feeder. It's also my understanding that most if not all "water column feeders" actually absorb nutrients more readily thru their roots than through their stems and leaves. It's just that they've adapted so that they absorb nutrients thru their stems and leaves efficiently enough that they CAN do well when the water column is their only source of nutrients. I think @Daniel and his dirtedvnermvecocomplete might help show if that's true or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Here is a pretty cool picture of Crinum calamistratum growing and flowering in a stream in Cameroon in West Africa . It is in the Lily family. I haven't grown Crinum calamistratum but given its root structure it is very likely a root feeder. But as @ChefConfit mentions above, just because you have roots doesn't rule out absorbing nutrients through your stems and leaves. Many times it can be a little of both. Crinum calamistratum is definitely a 'bulb' plant like so many of the lilies are. I would follow @Irene's recommendation and leave it like it is. Has anyone had their Crinum calamistratum flower like the picture above? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blurb Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 A couple of times mine have produced flowers like these. It is a beautiful thing when it comes out of the water and opens up. Lasted about a week if I remember correctly. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 @Blurb OMG that is stunning! Thank you! What light cycle (if any) do you run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blurb Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 This was about 18 month ago so..I usually run 10 hours and these lights were old T5 with 6500K. The plant grew huge and I had to break it up. I didn't use root feeders much then but the tank was well seasoned so it probably got a lot of nutrients through the substrate. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted December 10, 2020 Author Share Posted December 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Blurb said: This was about 18 month ago so..I usually run 10 hours and these lights were old T5 with 6500K. The plant grew huge and I had to break it up. I didn't use root feeders much then but the tank was well seasoned so it probably got a lot of nutrients through the substrate. @Blurb, wow! That is just amazing! Thanks for the encouragement! 👍👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now