Aquaponics! What have people done?

[sharkweek178]

My gf once got me a spider plant as a gift. I killed it by overwatering it. So I don't understand how they survive with their roots submerged in water.

 

[GaryE]

I've noticed a few plants that die in wet soil thriving in bare root set ups. I think it's root rot that does it. In flowing water, the roots are modified but healthy.

I had a monstera roots in my 120, by and 8 foot long window, one of those 2 foot high lower level of the house types. It looped around 3 times, and I would say was around 20 feet long. I lost it as a result of moving here, but it was beautiful. Huge leaves.

Does anyone here know the scientific name or trade name of a large leaf vining Monstera? The ones I have now don't vine, and I miss my old green friend.

 

[Ellie Potts]

You may be thinking of monstera deliciosa. It naturally grows in a vine, although it is often sold pruned away from a vine-like state. I have one and it's big beautiful vine.

I've noticed a few plants that die in wet soil thriving in bare root set ups. I think it's root rot that does it. In flowing water, the roots are modified but healthy.

I had a monstera roots in my 120, by and 8 foot long window, one of those 2 foot high lower level of the house types. It looped around 3 times, and I would say was around 20 feet long. I lost it as a result of moving here, but it was beautiful. Huge leaves.

Does anyone here know the scientific name or trade name of a large leaf vining Monstera? The ones I have now don't vine, and I miss my old green friend.

 

[Ellie Potts]

You see here what I mean-what it is sold as versus how it grows when it's left alone. Obviously, pruning it keeps it from being SO crazy, but it will crawl.

I've noticed a few plants that die in wet soil thriving in bare root set ups. I think it's root rot that does it. In flowing water, the roots are modified but healthy.

I had a monstera roots in my 120, by and 8 foot long window, one of those 2 foot high lower level of the house types. It looped around 3 times, and I would say was around 20 feet long. I lost it as a result of moving here, but it was beautiful. Huge leaves.

Does anyone here know the scientific name or trade name of a large leaf vining Monstera? The ones I have now don't vine, and I miss my old green friend.

 

[sharkweek178]

I have just started getting into this. I got a snake plant and a zz plant. And I got a pothos cutting that I'm keeping in old fish tank water. I change it out every week I think it's been 2 and a half weeks. No roots yet.

 

[Magnum Man]

I've done more than a dozen plants, out of tanks... including fruits and vegetables, grown out of my Tilapia grow out tanks... cucumbers and tomato's grow specially well...

in the house right now, I have pothos, philodendron, Hoya, and monstera vines, several varieties of each from golden, white, to variegated... non vining include peace lilies, Chinese Evergreen, as well as Lucky Bamboo... I even have some olive trees, slow growing, but still here after a year, one in particular is starting to branch out...

and I understand most anubis grow out if the water in the wild, I have a few emergent leaves... but I suspect most would be happy out of the tank, with only roots submerged... and I've heard many aquarium plants that are grown commercially are done so in shallow beds, plants out of the water, but roots submerged, as the grow faster that way... I understand Java Ferm are also grown that way...

 

[GaryE]

I move along, learning as I go. I would doubt a dryness lover like a zz plant would thrive, but then again, I have very tall snake plants growing with their bases in hob filters, jammed in behind the sponges of aquaclears. They're at 3 years now.
The same sort of system has given me a nice 'Chinese evergreen". It hasn't grown quickly, but over around 2 years it has become impressive.
I have a large fishroom. I have 5 peace lilies with roots in various tanks. One is enormous, with access to window light.
Some pothos vines have taken off, heading for the windows and dropping roots into every tank along the way.
Polka dot plants do well, but I find they grow large and flower, after which I have to start the seeds in dirt and restart the cycle.

I want roots in my tanks, though I like the HOB 'flowerpots". For a lot of our small fish from streams, the roots of riverbank plants are home. You see the dirt washed away by water flow, and in some places I encountered up to a foot deep of tough erosion fighting woody roots going from the plants at the stream edge down into the muddy substrate. The tangles are fed by quick flowing water, but provide over and shelter from the quick flow for fish under 2 inches.

It's interesting to see how confident some of these wee fish become when over is at hand. They don't hide, but they know they can be brave as hiding places are there in case you a fishing bird gets into your tank (they're strategic, not brilliant).

One note - none of these plants thrive longterm with their leaves under water. Roots only. I've had pothos scoot under water en route to their goals, but those leaves fall off in time.

Since my tanks are in an outbuilding/garage room, I can play more. I have a tank under a window with three very healthy pitcher plants growing. They've made it about a year with the bases of their pots about a quarter inch submerged, in with Calla lilies masses of white flowering Bacopa - some of our aquarium plants reverse the flow and like to get out into the air as well.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

My greatest success with Growing out the top plants has been dwarf bamboo, Himalayan maidenhair fern, and Greek basil. Watercress does well (and tastes great) but mine gets covered with aphids sooner or later so I think it's going to have to go. I also find anubias and Java fern grow really well emergent and form a great visual tie between the water and the air, making it look like one continuous environment.

At the moment I'm looking at some aphid-resistant, wet-root-friendly herbs and flowers to try in my Inle tank. I'm reading that chives, calendula, most mints, and oregano should fit the bill, if I can find dwarf varieties. Maybe some lemon grass, though I expect that would get too big.