Water Wisteria Growing

[kuzyaburst]

I've had Water wisterias in my tank for over a month now, and the plant just doesn't look like it's growing good. Is there a faster way of grow, trimming maybe? I see new growth but it's very slow, I also dose Flourish (Comprehensive supplement, and Excel). I have moderate lighting.  

 

[Byron]

Could you post a photo?  It might clue us in to something.  But generally, this is a fast growing plant, which means good light and nutrients.  It would also help if you could explain what you mean by moderate light.
 
As for fertilizers, the Flourish Comprehensive should be sufficient, depending upon your GH.  There is not much of the "hard" minerals in Flourish, since most have moderately hard tap water but if you happen to be like me and have very soft water, this is a possible issue.  You can ascertain the GH from your municipal water supplier, likely on their web site.
 
The Excel I personally would not use.  This is a highly toxic disinfectant (glutaraldehyde) and something I would not put in my fish tanks.  Not saying it is an issue for Wisteria, though some plants are harmed and even killed by this product.  If overdosed it can kill bacteria, plants and fish.
 
Byron.

 

[kuzyaburst]

Could you post a photo?  It might clue us in to something.  But generally, this is a fast growing plant, which means good light and nutrients.  It would also help if you could explain what you mean by moderate light.
 
As for fertilizers, the Flourish Comprehensive should be sufficient, depending upon your GH.  There is not much of the "hard" minerals in Flourish, since most have moderately hard tap water but if you happen to be like me and have very soft water, this is a possible issue.  You can ascertain the GH from your municipal water supplier, likely on their web site.
 
The Excel I personally would not use.  This is a highly toxic disinfectant (glutaraldehyde) and something I would not put in my fish tanks.  Not saying it is an issue for Wisteria, though some plants are harmed and even killed by this product.  If overdosed it can kill bacteria, plants and fish.
 
Byron.

The plant itself looks alright, I trimmed a couple of leaves off because I heard the stems of the leaves can grow roots. The plant just isn't growing unless if it isn't growing very tall. I think I have soft water (same as LFS) but they're growing their Wisteria just fine. 

 

[bigcheed]

one thing to note about wisteria is that it does need regular trimming but anoyingly it needs trimming from the bottom. which means re planting it each time you do. i learned this through trial and error before confirming with someone in the know. i cut the heads of all mine thinking it would grow back and was left with brown dead stalks. i no longer plant my wisteria but use it as a floating plant to great effect. i just trim the bottom off once a month and shorten the roots. the fish love it. i think what you may have done by cutting off the extra leaves is cut off the new growth. wisteria stems off sideways as much as it does upwards. where you see roots forming at the base of leaves is actually the base of a new stem. good luck.

 

[Byron]

Very true Chris.  Danil, from the photo the Wisteria leaves are probably the emersed form rather than submersed.  This is likely due to having been propagated emersed, which nurseries will do with "bog" plants as it is less expensive and faster than submersed cultivation.  Once planted submersed, the existing leaves will die off as new submersed growth appears [but see below].  I've no idea just how long this might take, but it would likely be influenced by conditions (light, nutrients).
 
The photo I am attaching shows a couple submersed plants that happen to have both leaf forms, though grown submersed.  The leaf shape with this species is affected rather significantly by temperature and light.  In brighter light and good nutrients, the finer pinnate leaf form occurs, while under less intense light the broader oval form.  Lower temperature causes less pinnate and smaller leaves, while higher tend to more pinnate and larger leaves.
 
I would not do any trimming other than removing the dying leaves (none show in the photo) as they appear.  New leaves, stems and roots will grow from each node along the stem; mainly new leaves and roots from every node, and branching from nodes where the stem is cut usually.
 
Byron.

 

[kuzyaburst]

Very true Chris.  Danil, from the photo the Wisteria leaves are probably the emersed form rather than submersed.  This is likely due to having been propagated emersed, which nurseries will do with "bog" plants as it is less expensive and faster than submersed cultivation.  Once planted submersed, the existing leaves will die off as new submersed growth appears [but see below].  I've no idea just how long this might take, but it would likely be influenced by conditions (light, nutrients).
 
The photo I am attaching shows a couple submersed plants that happen to have both leaf forms, though grown submersed.  The leaf shape with this species is affected rather significantly by temperature and light.  In brighter light and good nutrients, the finer pinnate leaf form occurs, while under less intense light the broader oval form.  Lower temperature causes less pinnate and smaller leaves, while higher tend to more pinnate and larger leaves.
 
I would not do any trimming other than removing the dying leaves (none show in the photo) as they appear.  New leaves, stems and roots will grow from each node along the stem; mainly new leaves and roots from every node, and branching from nodes where the stem is cut usually.
 
Byron.

Yeah I trimmed the dying leaves, I have pennant leaves and I see little new growth with more edgy thinner leaves. I also see roots growing in the middle of the plant (on the stem) should I cut half of the plant and replant?? I didn't notice the roots earlier but the roots that have grown from the middle are pretty long. I'll post a pic where the roots are located. Not the greatest picture, but you can see the roots coming from the middle.

 

[Byron]

This is just a guess, but the bend in the stem at that node may be why roots have appeared there and not from other nodes.  It is common for roots to grow from every node along the stem, along with leaves.  If you want, you could cut the stem on the side of this node opposite to the growing tip and then plant this cut end of the stem with the roots in the substrate.
 
Byron.

 

[kuzyaburst]

This is just a guess, but the bend in the stem at that node may be why roots have appeared there and not from other nodes.  It is common for roots to grow from every node along the stem, along with leaves.  If you want, you could cut the stem on the side of this node opposite to the growing tip and then plant this cut end of the stem with the roots in the substrate.
 
Byron.

Ok I see, I might cut it at a later time.