microsword

[panboy]

so i have a 46g, with 2.7wpg and i add some iron and potassium and a couple root tabs where needed.

i thought i could handle the microsword but the ends of the leaves are brownish.
this has to be a lack of something but im not sure.

do u think they need a root tab underneath them? and do the require more light than i have? or higher dosages of iron/potassium?

any help would be great, thanks

 

[George Farmer]

Hi Panboy,

Sound like you have enough light, I assume the microswords aren't shaded by other plants? I would try root tabs, all Echinidorus sp. are mainly gross/root feeders. I've recently thinned out my lawn, discarding the weaker plants and these had roots which were 3" long. I have 1.8 WPG using laterite and a heater cable, co2 approx 20 mg/l.

One other point is that there are several types of E. tenellus (microsword), some of which are different shades. Mine have a reddish tinge to them, are they sending off runners and what sort of texture is the brown affected area?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

well i had problem before with microsword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis well thats the one i had) and im not sure but maybe it was due to my gravel.. it was having a hard time clinging to it and maybe getting nutrients because my gravel is fairly large around half a pea size each....

and around that time i was using 3 WPG no shade and root tabs near em... im not really sure so somebody correct me if im wrong they looked ok but they didn't carpet and eventually browned up... dunno y

 

[panboy]

nope, its not shaded at all. i forgot to say that i add co2 also...
Wierd, maybe I need to increase my dosage of fert? but then i'm pretty sure algae will take over as i have tons already....

the brown texture is just the same as the leaf. Not really a texture, just different color of the plant.

thanks for the help, ill add a roottab and see hwo that works