Flowering Madagascar

[michaelwgroves]

I think I have a Madagascar, I noticed last night what I could only explain as a flower.
Now coincidentally, last night I was looking through a plant calalogue and I noticed they advise to remove any flowers immediatly.
I have left it for now, but I would like to know if I should remove the flower and why?

Regards
Michael

 

[Themuleous]

Do you have a photo? From what I understand Madagascar plants (lace plant I presume) are very difficult to grow, so if you've got it to flower, then it must be thriving! Nice one

Sam

 

[helterskelter]

My lace plant if finerly going mad after 3 years of leafing and dieing back.

I'm hopeing for for a flower soon.

The reason to remove is that the plant will die back after flowering i belive, but it will grow back.

Some apongetiums (poor spelling soz) can produce new plants from the flower directly, but i dont they they do.

The other Apon's i've flowered all produced seeds after several days, but I've never gotton the seeds to grow though.

any ideas of what we may have to do if it's dose?

 

[lljdma06]

Aponogeton seeds, specifically the Madagascar lace plant, should be allowed to float in the water for a day or two to dissolve the seed coat, which releases the embryo plant inside. Once released, the embryonic plant sinks and tries to root itself. According my source, the little plants should have a substrate of silica sand mixed with soil. They should be grown in the same conditions as the adult plants. Adult plants prefer to grow in a substrate low in organic matter, surrounded, but not smothered by other root-feeding plants for support. They grow well with plants like small cryptocorynes, which should be established first before the Aponogeton bulb is placed. They prefer medium light levels, CO2 injection, nutrients added to the water column, and temperatures no higher than 75 degrees F. Hope this helps. Under good conditions the plant can flower repeatedly without dieing back. If it does, it shouldn't be removed from the aquarium nor should the bulb be allowed to dry completely.

I feel really nerdy right now.

llj

 

[michaelwgroves]

Just to confirm, would I be correct in saying, as I do not have an ideal substrate (gravel) it is likely the plant will sink and rot, therefore I am better of getting rid?
However, I note your point about letting it float for a few days. So would I be better to keep an eye on it, then once it naturally releases, remove it?

--
Michael

 

[lljdma06]

Just to confirm, would I be correct in saying, as I do not have an ideal substrate (gravel) it is likely the plant will sink and rot, therefore I am better of getting rid?
However, I note your point about letting it float for a few days. So would I be better to keep an eye on it, then once it naturally releases, remove it?

--
Michael

That would be my guess, though I have never grown Aponogetons. You could try a few seeds. Perhaps a plant will take. If the adult is flowering, perhaps you may be lucky with the plantlets. If you see signs of decomposition, then remove them. You lose nothing by trying.

llj