Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus

[Joel Steen]

Hello, 

My Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus is probly about a year old. Nothing seems to have changed with the overall setup but I’ve noticed the stems have started to get real thin and pieces break off from time to time. The middle portion of the stem usually doesn’t grow leaves. Any ideas. 

[Guppysnail]

I could not keep pogo alive. However whenever I have run into thin elongated stems it’s a lack of light either time, intensity or both.

[Cyndi]

On 5/17/2022 at 8:25 AM, Guppysnail said:

I could not keep pogo alive. However whenever I have run into thin elongated stems it’s a lack of light either time, intensity or both.

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2022 by Cyndi
Moved Pics to Tank Journal

[anewbie]

Might be a fertilization issue; mine grows like a weed and if you let it break the water and grow emersed it will bloom; however it sucks a lot of nutrient given it rapid growth rate - at least in my tanks.

[Patrick_G]

Mine grows like a weed no matter what I do. I have soft, slightly acidic water with medium intensity lights and I dose Easy Green according to to instructions for a medium to high light tank. 

@Joel Steen in your case I agree with @Guppysnail, more light should do the trick. 

[Humbleguycrumb]

I planted Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus in 2 of my tanks last week. Tank 1 has an Aqueon LED Deluxe light fixture with Stratum subtrate, Tank 2 has a Fluval 3.0 and I dose with Easy Green and root tabs. The Pogo in tank 1 looks "normal". The pogo in tank 2 has new RED growth, Is that normal, good or bad?

[Bev C]

I keep mine alive and it grows tall but it never reproduce new spouts  i have seachem’s flourite sand and black diamond sand as a cap & use easy green root tabs and  fertilizer and iron 

[Cinnebuns]

On 5/17/2022 at 1:24 PM, Patrick_G said:

Mine grows like a weed no matter what I do

Same. I got a very small amount as a "bonus mystery plant" and in 2 weeks it's already more than doubled in size. I am nowhere an expert but I can say maybe some things I'm doing that may contribute to the growth. I tend to leave my lights on for a long duration. I also recently started supplementing potassium. I can't tell you for sure if either factor is what's doing it but maybe one is something to try. Good luck!

[nabokovfan87]

On 5/17/2022 at 5:19 AM, Joel Steen said:

Nothing seems to have changed with the overall setup but I’ve noticed the stems have started to get real thin and pieces break off from time to time. The middle portion of the stem usually doesn’t grow leaves.

When I had it, it grew insanely tall, very thick, and very much felt like it grew as a matter of out competing everything else in the tank.

What is the red/green/blue settings on your light?  What is your dosing schedule like and what are you dosing?

On 6/1/2022 at 10:09 AM, Humbleguycrumb said:

I planted Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus in 2 of my tanks last week. Tank 1 has an Aqueon LED Deluxe light fixture with Stratum subtrate, Tank 2 has a Fluval 3.0 and I dose with Easy Green and root tabs. The Pogo in tank 1 looks "normal". The pogo in tank 2 has new RED growth, Is that normal, good or bad?

You shouldn't need the root tabs for PSO.  The red growth is usually just due to it getting more/intense light. As long as you're not seeing algae on the leaves itself, I'd trim it, plant the stem, and then propagate it out.  It basically just needs trimmed if anything.

[TeeJay]

Have only had mine in the tank for about a month now so not sure what to expect. How it does well. Seems to have grown about 2in so far.

[Humbleguycrumb]

On 6/3/2022 at 11:15 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

When I had it, it grew insanely tall, very thick, and very much felt like it grew as a matter of out competing everything else in the tank.

What is the red/green/blue settings on your light?  What is your dosing schedule like and what are you dosing?

You shouldn't need the root tabs for PSO.  The red growth is usually just due to it getting more/intense light. As long as you're not seeing algae on the leaves itself, I'd trim it, plant the stem, and then propagate it out.  It basically just needs trimmed if anything.

I wasn't sure if trimming and propagating after only 1 week was a safe thing to do... I half expected it to shock/melt back at this point not flourish to the point of trimming 😆 

[CKetchum]

Pogo, like most plants can utilize both roots and water col for nutrients. What is your substate? Maybe it was benefiting from some root nutrients that are now depleted? Or if you have changed fish foods, perhaps there was something that the plant was gaining and isn't anymore.... phosphate, etc.? Hoping for the best for you.