Helping Ludwigia Grow

[Bugdozer]

I had some small leaved red Ludwigia in my tank, planted in a substrate with three layers - normal rounded gravel in a thin surface layer, below that a lighter gravel which was recommended as good for plants to push roots through, and below that a compost layer to proved some nutrition for the roots.
Within a couple of days the Ludwigia had started to drop a lot of leaves (this seems to be common from what I've read) but then many of the leaves still on the plant started to turn sickly army green colour, continued to drop off, some of the stems seemed to rot a couple of inches up above the gravel line... I ended up taking the whole lot out before I ended up with decaying plant matter polluting the tank. Meanwhile, all my other plants continue to thrive (with the exception of something that looks just like bunches of grass, which develops the odd yellow leaf). I have added a small amount of fertiliser to the tank water.
I'd really like to put some more Ludwigia in the tank as it's an attractive plant and contrasts with all the others which are green. But I don't want the same thing to happen again - so any tips on how I might prevent this again?

 

[Teephphah]

I'm usually really good at killing ludiwigia, and my process sounds almost identical to yours. (Although I'm just planting in play sand.) But this last time I bought some, I tried something new. I left the bunch I bought in the little lead weight for a week or two and/or let the stems that escaped just float while they developed some roots. I only just planted the stems (NOW with ROOTS!) this last weekend. I'm hoping I'll have better luck this time around than I have in the past. But, if history is any guide, these things are probably still as good as dead.

 

[Noahs ark6]

Try using fertiliser regularly. Do you use Co2?, how many watts are your lights?

 

[Bugdozer]

Try using fertiliser regularly. Do you use Co2?, how many watts are your lights?

1. It died before the fertiliser could become "regular"
2. No.
3. Don't know, but I do know Ludwigia Repens can use light from very low to very high intensity. The lights were on 8 or so hours per day.

 

[Noahs ark6]

Why don't you try using a quality fertliser regularly.

 

[Bugdozer]

Why don't you try using a quality fertliser regularly.

Because following the recommended dosage of the quality fertiliser I AM using, the Ludwigia fell to bits before I could give a second dose, let alone a regular dose. As I said.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Because following the recommended dosage of the quality fertiliser I AM using, the Ludwigia fell to bits before I could give a second dose, let alone a regular dose. As I said.

What's your lighting type and photoperiod? Any CO2 and what fertilisers are you using?

 

[Bugdozer]

Because following the recommended dosage of the quality fertiliser I AM using, the Ludwigia fell to bits before I could give a second dose, let alone a regular dose. As I said.

What's your lighting type and photoperiod? Any CO2 and what fertilisers are you using?

As I already said, I'm not using CO2, if by photoperiod you mean how long the lights are on, I already said 8 hours or so. I am using Tetra Planta Min, and all other plants are doing fine. Does Ludwigia Repens automatically die if you don't add CO2 then?

 

[FishFanatic04]

I had some Ludwiga repens that melted when I introduced it to my low tech tank. They soon began to grow new green leaves at the top. The red leaves needed a higher lighting however the green plant was very pretty.

Cut away the rotted bit at the bottom and replant, you may have the same luck I did.

 

[Bugdozer]

Thanks, I'll try that if it does it again. Might be getting some more tomorrow.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Does Ludwigia Repens automatically die if you don't add CO2 then?

No, plants falling apart is often a sign of lack of CO2 which can be attributed to too much light or a lack of flow (why I asked what type of lights you had), conversely if it's getting good light and flow so able to use a higher % of the available CO2 than say, all the other plants doing well in the tank it could be attributed to the lack of nutrients in the Tetra Plantamin
IMO


but you probably already said that.