Red Tiger Lotus

[Ville]

I stumbled upon this beautiful plant while ordering a new diffuser for my CO2 injection (accidentally broke mine today while cleaning it and nearly slit my wrist): http://aqmagic.com/store/product_info.php?pName=red-tiger-lotus&cName=aquarium-plants-lotus-seed

Has anyone had any experience with this plant? It says "Prune the roots and leaves, if you don't want floating leaves" on the site which doesn't make any sense to me. Whats the meaning of "floating leaves"? Is it long stems with leaves on the surface? The page doesn't say how large the plant gets either. Does anyone know?

I think it would make a great solitaire in my tank but it can't be too large or I won't have room for it. I also don't want to dig it up and prune the roots every once in a while if that's what they mean.

 

[Biollante]

Be Careful, Those Plants Get A Taste For Blood, Well…

Hi,

The Red or Green Lotus, Nymphaea lotus (zenkeri) is perhaps my favorite plant, real multi-taskers.

The description you cite is the Tropica description http://www.tropica.com/productcard_1.asp?id=019.

The plant has two distinct forms the submerged and the floating leaf form.

To keep the plant submerged requires trimming any floating leaf or any leaf that is heading for the surface. Also trimming any exposed root (see the Tropica drawing). The bulb sits mostly exposed. Some plants require a lot of work to keep submerged, others a little trimming and they sit nicely for months. Higher light levels help maintain the submerged plant. I have found this is a very competitive plant and keeping other plants clear is helpful. :gw

I use these plants to reduce the light to control growth and to protect the low light plants and critters.

Nymphaea lotus (zenkeri) like enriched substrates, worm poop and Osmocote Plus seem to work well along with EI dosing and a little high on the potassium. To encourage flowering I find raising the potassium and phosphate is helpful. The seeds will germinate (after the flower has wilted).

Biollante