needle leaf java fern… anyone play???

[Magnum Man46 160]

so in my cool water native fish tank, that will be housing a half dozen blue spot sunfish, I was looking for plants… I like the look of a “val” but wanted something easier to keep, with no soil or fertilizer needed, I have never run across these before, but found them from Buce plants, and I have 6 pots coming… curious if anyone else here is growing the needle leaf version???

 

[GaryE6 4]

I have some, but in a standard tropical tank. I've never kept it below 20c, which google tells me is 68f. That's an indoor, heated house to me. My understanding is it may not survive in the temperatures a 3 season space will offer in winter. Plus, if you are running a cool period for natives but managing to keep ice out of the tank, they'll need a low to no light period for their body clocks (to emulate life under ice or when the plants have died back). If you're going to give natives the benefits of winter as part of their life cycle, that tank will have to get into the 40s, low 50sf.

That's a lot of strikes thrown to a tropical plant.

 

[Magnum Man46 160]

the blue spot has quite a range, and far enough south, that the habitat would never ice over… so the actual temperatures of my tank will range from summer in the shade average temps of somewhere in the 80’s, to winter temps being whatever I set the heaters at ( thinking around 60 degrees )

the foam box, will protect the tank during the extreme winter months, and will stop the use of the main viewing lights, however the 2 plant lights I normally use for sun rise and sun set, and shine through the tank back ground, consist of 2 - 18 inch LED strips per light, so even during the dead of winter, there will still be light cycles inside the foam box, just no direct overhead lighting…

so I’m thinking I can keep the tank warm enough, and light enough, for the plants and fish to over winter… it’s unlikely the fish will hibernate, so I’ll reduce feeding, but will have to incorporate an opening door to the corners of the tank top, through the foam, to slip a little food in the tank…

they are predicting one of the warmest winters on record this year, so this will allow me some fudge room, to get the bugs out of my system for the winter…

 

[Magnum Man46 160]

Java Fern Needle Leaf3 Pots

Common Name: Java Fern Needle Leaf, Microsorum Pteropus Needle Leaf, Leptochilus pteropus Java Fern Needle Leaf is a highly sought-after rarity in the aquarium hobby. This is because the needle leaf variant is unique with thin, slender leaves that grow no wider than half an inch wide. The leaves...

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