Think I've Been Sold Non Aquatic Plant

[jonnyuk]

i bought the below plant at the weekend because it looked nice. i had doubts at the time about it been aquatic but the lfs said it was (why do we believe them).

can anyone tell me what it is, i can't find it. its the red leave plant on the right had side towards the back.

thanks

J

 

[Verminator89]

Initial response for me is that it is NOT aquatic. It could well be a marsh plant, or house plant. Either way long term in your tank i reckon it'll rot and pollute your water.


However a simple and relatively true technique can be applied to find out if it is if you ever doubt it. Take the plant out of the water and hold it upright from the base. If it stays relatively upright, basically without folding over on itself, then it is generally a none-aquatic plant. Aquatic plants by and large arent able to hold themselves upright out of water. There are some aquatic plants that can sustain their vertical growth out of water but most of these are of the amazon swords species.


To reiterate, if its it 'floppy' out of water its aquatic, rigid it is most likely non-aquatic.


Use that experiment as a loose rule of thumb.

 

[jonnyuk]

thanks for the reply. i fear its not aquatic, it stays up right. i'll keep an eye on it, the minute i see it starting to rot i'll pull it out.

cheers

 

[ian]

The red tipped one is a marsh plant, it won't survive submerged.

 

[jonnyuk]

i'm thinking of having something tall in the middle of the tank. could i attach it somehow to that and have the leaves out of the water or would it still not survive without having the roots in something (suppose it could use a basket of some kind).

 

[ian]

have a look in the planted journal section, have a look at the Ripariums...or search the net for Ripariums (sorry we can't post links to other forums)

 

[Carlovel1]

The red tipped one is a marsh plant, it won't survive submerged.

I think its a house plant but im not sure

 

[elisew]

Looks like a Cordyline terminalis, Cordyline fruticosa, otherwise known as 'The Variegated Thumb' or 'Ti Plant'. It`s an indoor potted plant, not an aquatic plant.

 

[jonnyuk]

it does look like a house plant. can i name and shame? i feel like going back to the lfs and demanding my money back.

i've had a look at some Ripariums, did not even know they existed (sadly don't appeal to me) and is not really an option.

guess you live and learn.

cheers for all your help

 

[elisew]

Don`t feel so bad, I know it`s really bl**dy annoying and you would expect a lfs to actually know what they`re selling but we`ve all been there. I`ve been sold non-aquatic plants and the water qualty suffered horrendously which in turn meant that quite a lot of my fish died. That was before I found this forum and I can now say I have a happier, healthier, planted tank

I`d personally advise for you to remove that plant asap as it may well end up affecting your water before it gets to the stage where it`s visibly rotting.

You`re right, we do live and learn but that`s life huh.

 

[jonnyuk]

did'nt realise they could do that much damage in the tank. its comming out now!
i'm trying a betta in my tank this weekend so don't want dodgy water.

thanks for the heads up

You`re right, we do live and learn but that`s life huh

surley is, if only everything was as easy to right off as a £1.50 plant

 

[plantedaquaria]

I was done a few times back when I started out.

 

[elisew]

Just as well there`s forums like this one with experienced members

 

[AstonN24vantage]

i think everyone learned a lesson here - NEVER TRUST THE LFS

 

[Carlovel1]

My non-aquatic plant is happily surviving in my garden!