It is quite right that this specimen is the most remarkable in the genus Aponogeton. In the 1950s, a delicate and erratic culture entered home aquariums and quickly won over enthusiasts of underwater flora. It’s all about the leaves’ peculiar structure, which resembles a mesh. Furthermore, more sophisticated than the Lace Fern, for instance.
Because aquarists are in such high demand for these plants, the species is in danger of going extinct in its native environment. However, the Aponogeton Madagascarsky grows well indoors and is a common plant in botanical gardens worldwide.
- Description of the plant
- Plant morphology
- Area of distribution
- Growing and care
- Optimal water parameters
- Lighting requirements
- Soil quality
- Need for feeding
- Features of reproduction
- Name variations
- Video on the topic
- Aponogeton viviparous. "Kolkhoznaya agronomy)"
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- Aponogeton madagascariensis. My experience of maintenance.
Description of the plant
A very significant culture in aquarium design.
The size and form of the cells in the two types are different from one another:
- var. Henkelianus — a lacy structure of irregular shape.
- var. Major — a symmetrical leaf blade.
In ideal circumstances, the plant can grow to remarkable lengths of one meter.
Plant morphology
The absence of glandular tissue in between the veins is the primary characteristic that sets them apart. This is why the leaves have the appearance of lace fabric. Nature did not create this pattern by accident. The plants were able to adjust to strong currents in rivers and streams because of their porous structure.
Principal attributes:
- Class — Monocots.
- Order — Alismata.
- Family — Aponogetonaceae.
- Genus — Aponogeton.
- Leaves are ovoid, 30 to 50 cm long and 6 to 8 cm wide cm. Located on a stem growing on a swollen root. The color of leaf plates varies from green to emerald with a brown tint.
- The peduncle reaches up to 1 m in length.
- Inflorescences are covered with a blanket. Flowers are bisexual, during the flowering period they form a kind of spiral.
When the water oscillates, adult plants haphazardly shed their leaves, producing a hazy effect.
Area of distribution
Madagascar is the species’ native land. It grows in the Comoros Islands and Mauritius as well, in their natural habitat. Under the cover of mangrove thickets, tropical waters are the preferred habitat for plants. Maybe this explains their preference for muted lighting. Though not as frequently, they can also be found in well-lit areas.
Growing and care
Companion plants like Aponogeton Madagascariensis can adorn an aquarium for five to six years. but with the right attention. Growing this crop is not advised for novice aquarists as it is highly erratic and demanding of the conditions of confinement.
Individuals within this species occasionally enter a state of dormancy. They stop growing and shed their leaves at this point. However, you can prevent the freezing period if you give them a comfortable environment. In this way, plants defend themselves against harmful elements in their natural environment.
It’s intriguing that Aponogeton Madagascariensis is not instantly harmed by care errors. It can last a long time looking decorative from the outside. But it’ll wither quickly when the resources run out. In most cases, a completely absent foliage indicates a dying plant.
Optimal water parameters
This species is extremely sensitive to the aquatic environment’s quality. In stagnant or contaminated water, it may die. As a result, each week the aquarium’s one-fifth of its water should be changed.
Suggested parameters:
- temperature – 20–24°C;
- pH – 6–7;
- hardness – 6–8°dGH.
You must combine equal parts of distilled, boiled, and settled fresh water to achieve the ideal hardness. You can get both softness and increased acidity in this way.
When it comes to temperature indicators, you should be meticulous. Below 20°C causes the plants to slow down in growth, and above 27°C causes the plants to stop growing. It is advised to introduce carbon dioxide.
Filtration and strong currents work well for Aponogeton Madagascariensis. Installing a pump in the aquarium and positioning the culture close to the water filter are therefore advised.
Lighting requirements
Exposure of apogeton to direct sunlight results in adverse reactions. Place it in a dark corner of the tank, as it prefers partial shade. Placing the aquarium next to a north-facing window is the best choice.
The best lighting is thought to be moderate, ranging from 0.4 to 0.5 W/l. To put things in perspective, a 40 W lamp emits 300 lumens of light. It is best to stick to the guidelines because intense light encourages the growth of algae on leaf blades.
Keep in mind that there are three indicators that define aquarium lighting when selecting a lighting system:
- brightness;
- duration;
- spectral composition.
Furthermore, each of these specifications matters. The aim of the aquarist is to emulate the properties of light found in the natural world as closely as possible.
You can try combining various kinds of lighting equipment when cultivating Aponogeton madagascariensis. We are discussing fluorescent, krypton, and incandescent light bulbs. In the first spectrum, orange is the most common ray, and in the second, red-orange. The fluorescent spectrum partially mimics the solar spectrum.
It’s vital to keep in mind that krypton has the maximum light output when buying lamps. This species should be kept in limited numbers because it dislikes bright light.
Soil quality
Coarse river sand or aquarium soil that encourages good water circulation in the root zone, like Tetra ActiveSubstrate, are suitable for growing Aponogeton Madagascariensis. A maximum layer thickness of 7 cm is advised.
There shouldn’t be much siltation in the soil. The thin roots might rot otherwise. A crucial point to remember when cultivating this species is that the rhizome shouldn’t be submerged entirely in the substrate.
Need for feeding
Nutrient-rich soil is disliked by Aponogeton Madagascariensis. As a result, selecting fertilizers needs to be done very carefully. Dark patches may appear on leaf blades in soil that has been "overfed."
The plant responds favorably to iron addition and adversely to high concentrations of peat. Weekly additions of complex fertilizers and small water changes are both possible.
Features of reproduction
Among the members of its genus, this species is the most costly. It is therefore best to spread it yourself.
Representatives of the Madagascar group have three growth points, while the majority of aponogeton only have one! When splitting the plants, pay particular attention to the distinct cut at the bottom of the tuber.
When severing a portion of the material, you must ensure that every fragment receives the maximum amount of the nutrient-rich tuber. In this instance, the cut should be made as short as possible.
The plants are split and then immediately buried after the cuts have been treated with crushed activated carbon. You have to exercise extreme caution when manipulating the tubers because their tissue is susceptible to mechanical stress.
Although it is also possible to propagate seeds, the seeds grow slowly and germinate poorly. The fact that these plants do not self-pollinate should be considered important. Regretfully, Aponogeton madagascariensis pollen ripens more quickly than pistil stigmas. As a result, pollen grains need to be carefully collected and stored in a quiet area using cotton wool wrapped around a match. It ought to be applied to the stigmas after a day.
Getting two plants and cross-pollinating them will improve germination. 150–200 seeds are produced by bisexual flowers. Planting material is put in a container with no more than 10 cm of water in it.
At this point, the aquatic environment should have the following ideal qualities:
- temperature – 20-24 ° C;
- pH – 6-7;
- hardness — up to 4° dGH.
Additionally, 1/3 of the water volume needs to be replaced every day.
Name variations
The Madagascar Lace Plant, or Aponogeton madagascariensis, is a wonderful addition to any aquarium that lacks a little sophistication and unspoiled beauty. This plant gives your fish a dynamic environment in addition to aesthetic appeal with its delicate, lace-like leaves that sway gracefully in the water. The Madagascar Lace Plant will turn your aquarium into a lush, colorful underwater landscape that will improve both its aesthetic and ecological balance. It is also easy to maintain and can adapt to a variety of tank conditions.
Many names for Aponogeton madagascariensis exist:
- Perforated Aponogeton.