Crinum Thaianum Question Please

[fry_lover]

I have about 12 of these that have been thriving in my community planted tank (48x18x24) for over a year now. Some of them reach up to 6 foot from bulb to tip if i dont prune them enough.

I am wanting to experiment with a few of them in my 48x20x24 Malawi (mostly mbuna set-up).

The biggest issue i think will be substrate or lack of. I only have about a 1cm sand depth (if that) at the back of my Malawi set-up, as things stand the Crinum Thaianum would be lodged behind some ocean rock and it's roots would be almost completely out of the sand

I know Onion Plants are very hardy (i've never had a dead one or dying one anyway), but is planting with virtually no substrate a non-starter?

Obviously i can do it and see what happens, just wondered what peeps views are?

Thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

it will be hard to keep planted, with it being only 1cm deep it will be hard to keep down you can float it but it will grow all funny.

 

[fry_lover]

it will be hard to keep planted, with it being only 1cm deep it will be hard to keep down you can float it but it will grow all funny.

can you expand on "grow all funny" mate?

I was going to put the bulb (well i would like to plant 4 or 5 of them) in between bit's of ocean rock, wouldn't really want it floating

Roots are for taking in nutrients from the substrate aren't they? I was wondering if the plant would just take up nutrients through it's leaves? I could dose with Seachem Flourish i use for my community planted tank

I heard that broad leaved plants do take up quite a few nutrients direct from leaves?

I'll soon know i guess, the bulb goes manky and smells quite a bit if the plant is dead/dying i think?

 

[aaronnorth]

if it is floating then the leaves will grow to the light so the leaves will grow wherever they need to go to get the most light if that makes sense! Onion plans are very hardy so it wouldnt be much of a problem it is going to be anchored down, another way around it is to pot it.

 

[fry_lover]

ok thanks for feedback Aaron, the potting was suggested on another forum actually, good idea