My Emersed Propagator

[ian]

as we know most aquatic plants are grow out of water, then sold to us and we plonk em straight in. I have had a propagator on my windowsill for a year or so now, to store plants. I was given a pot of Marsilea hirsuta a month ago and it has gone wild in the propagator. I just though i'd share some pics...
Marsilea hirsuta

Left over Ranunculus

fts lol

I'd urge anyone interested in aquatic plants to try something like this, you can then see the plants in their emersed states.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Love keeping plants like this. I've had hydro setups with foggers and fans too. Some species really fly. The addition of CO2 can spice things up also.
I've got an 105 site aeroponics prop hanging around somewhere. I should use it really.

 

[L_Plates]

Ian anychance of showing us some pics of how you set this up ?

So we can get a better idea of how to go about it, Pretty Please ?

Or is it as simple as treating them like a plant ?

LP

 

[minnnt]

Love the FTS shot

 

[ian]

SO19Firearms, it would be good to see some of these if you have any pics, i love misted emersed tanks.

LP, i shall get some more pics of it and you can see how simple it is.

 

[ian]

here you go LP, it really is this simple...
top

bottom

tray

tray in propagator

covered over

heres a few more pics

root system

Ludwigia hidden

new growth

anubias and riccia

java moss

the propagator was £2 from B&Q, the plants are mainly surplus to what i haven't used for the last years or so. Just thrown in.

 

[L_Plates]

So you just fill up the tray with water and place in the propogator simple as.

What about ferts anything ?

And you just leave this in a warm area ?

Daily water changes ?

Cheers for the images mate you know i am going to give this a go now

My Lugwigia Repens has started to get some side shoots so i can use them as a tester

LP

 

[ian]

It's left on a south facing windowsill, in the kitchen. No ferts and water topped up whenever i can remember! Monthly ish. I have also used mosses and plants out of this.

 

[L_Plates]

cheers Ian

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I'm setting up a few large trays soon in my shed with LED lighting to grow emersed potted plants to start up a little business soon but I'll be adding filters and what not too to circulate everything.

 

[stu40]

With all these propogators being set up, i expect a lot more posts in the 'donations' thread

 

[SO19Firearms]

SO19Firearms, it would be good to see some of these if you have any pics, i love misted emersed tanks.

A few pics from my old emersed setup.
(I know they're not very good....but you get the idea)

Don't dis the lighting pendant - It's double corrugated I tell ya!!
You can see the hygrometer through the "poly tunnel" plastic - 85-90% and you can just make out the thermometer - 18deg

Through the front panel with the small fogger on - 15mins every hour

Inside with the fogger on showing roughly the max water level (or so it should be when it doesn't surge)

Low voltage fans set outside (they stop working at 90% humidity inside.....) These run for 30mins 4x during the light cycle mainly to keep a gas exchange as I'm not currently running CO2, if I was trying to propagate the plants I'd seal the bottom add CO2 and not run an external fan.

My favourite bit - the business end. Nutrient tank currently containing 75litres. pH 6. Own recipe nutes with a twist on Tom's EI for topping up.
Runs at 1000l/hr constantly but drains the table for 15mins every 3 hours. This draws oxygen into the roots through the rockwool and has the added benefit of screwing up any algae. (Looking back I'd probably do this differently - Not sure the crypts like this so much. Maybe put them in an inner tray that doesnt drain down)
I also run two large air stones to aerate the solution as well. Also has a 300w Rena Smart unbreakable heater, for when I smack it stirring the tank

Mini fogger from Maplin...bargain. Used in this case to keep the humidity up, but also has the effect of giving a foliar feed - 15mins every hour.

250w CFL at 6400K. In hydroponics you'd switch this out for 2700K when flowering. Runs 8hrs/day
If you were propergating or trying to actually grow your plants rather than just keep them you could up this to 16,18, 20hpd?

Something isn't square......

Fan from the inside - the flaps are cut to basically keep the moisture off

The lid with quality cardboard pendant in shot

Nigel

 

[Million]

Wow, that's a great setup - better watch out the police don't confuse it for something else, though judging by your username that may not be an issue...
Are those crypts I see? Didn't know they could grow like this.

I've recently taken a cutting of anubias which I am trying to grow emersed, just in rockwool and a yoghurt pot on a sunny windowsill. I think it needs a lid for increased humidity though, as it isn't doing too well.

Everyone should have a propagator, all you need to do is make one using the leftover plastic trays from shop-bought fruit.

 

[ian]

great set up there!

Million, most is not all crypts are grown out of water, this is why we get the famous 'crypt melt', as the leaves become the submerged version.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Do places like the green machine grow them this way or do they have open tops?