Red Tiger Lotus Won't Get Tall

[catfishblues]

Okay so I know most people who have tiger lotus' will hate me for this but mine are all short and small and I want a tall, big plant! I bought a bulb about 8 months ago and it keeps spitting out the plants but the leaves grow horizontally and are all under 3 inches. I thought maybe it's a different variety. so a month ago I got a much much bigger bulb and the leaves coming out of it were clearly growing upward. Those have now died off and it's growing exactly like the rest. Any tips? I have about 3 watts per gallon, clay-based substrate, and a diy yeast co2 injection. Any help is appreciated!

 

[KkAaNnEe]

The lotus will generally grow short if it is trimmed, im just guessing that when you bought the first one it had already been trimmed down. Theres not much you can do to get them growing back tall once they grow short as they don't wanna make the same mistake twice. Next time you purchase a bulb try asking whether its been trimmed at all yet

 

[catfishblues]

I'll give that a try! seeing as they are not very expensive it's not a very big deal. It's weird because the leaves are growing completely horizontally on the ground. I'm trying some experiments. I put one in the shade of other plants so that it may try to grow above them and I put rocks all around another so that the leaves are forced to only go up.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I wish I had read this post before I stripped my lotus, we could have done a trade. I would LOVE a short lotus as opposed to the monster I had. The leaves were as big as my face and taking over the whole tank.

 

[ian]

it will get bigger...it'll be storing up all that energy in its little bulb and will go metal at some point.

 

[Box]

Mines just started to bolt up..
Really nice plants

 

[catfishblues]

I wish I had read this post before I stripped my lotus, we could have done a trade. I would LOVE a short lotus as opposed to the monster I had. The leaves were as big as my face and taking over the whole tank.

Hahaha that's too bad!

it will get bigger...it'll be storing up all that energy in its little bulb and will go metal at some point.

I hope so! I've had them for about 8 months now! Would it help if I left it on the bulb? I normally pluck the plants off as soon as I can.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

The lower light may definitely work

 

[catfishblues]

The lower light may definitely work

I also have heard some people say more nutrients work. I also heard less work. The internet is confusing. luckily I have maybe 8 individual plants so I can try changing the settings to each one and see what gets the best results!

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Im not sure more nutrients would work if they already grow well, but im sure you will find a way with that many on the go, good luck and let us know the results

 

[catfishblues]

Im not sure more nutrients would work if they already grow well, but im sure you will find a way with that many on the go, good luck and let us know the results

Thanks! I'll let you all know how it goes. the one with the root tab has a new leaf coming through and it appears to be growing upward! But it's probably just me getting excited.