Blyxa stem base problem

[nipat]

After 3-4 months, the base stems of my Blyxas rot or turn to mush.
They attach to the substrate only by roots from the healthy stems.
Technically, they are floating 1-2" above substrate. The upper parts of
the plants are OK. Is this normal?

This happens to Heteranthera Zosterilfolia too, which is also stem plant.

I think the substrate is still OK, in terms of aerobicity.
Because all other rosette plants (Vallisneria, Tenellus, Vivipara) don't have
this problem.

This makes me suspect that it's because there is too
low nutrients in the plain gravel substrate, especially the less mobile ones.
So the nutrients received from the leaves can't move to the base stem
for stem plants. Rosette plants don't have this problem because
almost all of their structures are made of leaves.

What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[Biollante]

A Touch Crowded

Hi Nipat,

Two possibilities come to what passes for my mind.

First is light getting to the base of the plants.

Second is iron.

The first seems more probable, it may be time to move some of those Blyxa (? whatever it is) to a new home. Your garden may just require a little thinning. Good plant keepers have this problem.

The plants floating up may just be volunteering for relocation.

Good luck,
Biollante

 

[nipat]

Thanks Biollante, may be it's time to thin, remove some of them and replant.
This may be also because I planted 4-5 of them too closely, making them
compete each other for space. I'll try to plant just 2 stems (with some distance)
at the spot and see if they will be able to grow bigger.

 

[Biollante]

Perhaps You Mentioned It In Another Thread

Hi Nipat,

What species or variety of Blyxa is that? It certainly appears happy.

Biollante

 

[nipat]

Hi,

I think it's Novoguineensis. Because the leaves are narrower
than Japonica and Echinosperma, and has many more branches.