Daylight Or Desk Lamp?

[daizeUK]

Basic question here from a complete beginner!

I have some hornwort (submersum) which I can't put in my tank yet. I'm keeping it floating in a vase for a few weeks, ideally I'd like to get some growth out of it but not sure how well it's going to do in a vase of water.

I've currently got it on the windowsill in my kitchen where it can get some natural daylight (though not much I guess since it's winter!), or I could move it into a dark room under my 20W desk light where it might also be a bit warmer - which is best?

I have about 50ppm nitrates occurring naturally in my tapwater, is that enough to keep it going for a few weeks or do I need to add fertiliser?

 

[fluttermoth]

It should be fine on your windowsill. My ex has a little tank with hornwort and a few pond snails on his kitchen windowsill and it does fine.

Daylight would always be better than artificial, for plants. I don't think you'd need fertilizer, but change the water once every so often, as it will use up the nitrate and trace minerals.

 

[daizeUK]

Okay thanks very much

 

[SO19Firearms]

Check it for signs of breaking up, if it doesn't get enough CO2 you might want to consider keeping it dim (that would address any lack of flow issues too)
Nitrate in the tap is good and if you have hard water you'll be good for alot of the other stuff.

IMO

 

[daizeUK]

Thanks.
It's looking in a pretty sorry state this morning. I have three or four short strands, all but one have shed all their needles overnight. Only one strand still looks green and healthy.

The water is freezing cold so I wonder if it is just a natural response to winter setting in. Submersum is supposed to be a tropical plant isn't it...

I noticed a few of the tips were slightly brown when I got it, I don't know if they're supposed to be like that or if it browned in the post in transit to me. The stems that showed signs of browning are all bare now.

I've tipped out the leaves and changed the water this morning. I haven't bothered to dechlorinate it, I didn't think it would matter for plants?

 

[SO19Firearms]

Temp could certainly be an issue, CO2 also. Chlorine probably won't be an issue so much, plants need it too.

 

[daizeUK]

I gave in and dumped what's left of the hornwort into my cycling tank. Maybe the BioMature will kill it, but clearly I can't leave it in cold water if I want it to grow.
The annoying thing is I will have to switch my tank lights on for it, no doubt I will get an explosion of algae, all for the sake of a couple of strands of hornwort