Impulse buy! Did I get terestrial plants?

[Adam]

I'm afraid I already know the answer to this, but here goes. I just
picked up an aluminum plant (Pilea Cadierei) at the store. I had never
seen it before and thought that it was quite pretty. So I bought one.
Now it looks like this plant is not meant for life under water. Can
anyone confirm this? Oh well, at least it will look good for the next
few weeks.

Impulse! the death of me (and sadly a few plants and ay, even a red
clawed crab (who managed to take out a well researched and healthy fish
(which are now being harassed by my red tailed shark (I should stop
buying anything with the word 'red' in the name (I digress)))))

[Altum]

Adam wrote:
> I'm afraid I already know the answer to this, but here goes. I just
> picked up an aluminum plant (Pilea Cadierei) at the store. I had never
> seen it before and thought that it was quite pretty. So I bought one.
> Now it looks like this plant is not meant for life under water. Can
> anyone confirm this? Oh well, at least it will look good for the next
> few weeks.
>
> Impulse! the death of me (and sadly a few plants and ay, even a red
> clawed crab (who managed to take out a well researched and healthy fish
> (which are now being harassed by my red tailed shark (I should stop
> buying anything with the word 'red' in the name (I digress)))))

It's not a true aquatic. It likes dry leaves and wet roots. You can
grow it as a houseplant in the windowsill if you like...

Nothing quite like impulse buys to make your tanks interesting...

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
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[Mister Gardener]

On 4 May 2006 11:29:29 -0700, "Adam" >
wrote:

>I'm afraid I already know the answer to this, but here goes. I just
>picked up an aluminum plant (Pilea Cadierei) at the store. I had never
>seen it before and thought that it was quite pretty. So I bought one.
>Now it looks like this plant is not meant for life under water. Can
>anyone confirm this? Oh well, at least it will look good for the next
>few weeks.
>
>Impulse! the death of me (and sadly a few plants and ay, even a red
>clawed crab (who managed to take out a well researched and healthy fish
>(which are now being harassed by my red tailed shark (I should stop
>buying anything with the word 'red' in the name (I digress)))))

Hmmm. Impulse buying is not a good thing when you are building a
biotope tank. Research, learn, plan, first the substrate then the
filter flow to the water chemistry to the plants to the rocks to the
wood and then . . . the fish. Nope, back up, first the size and shape
of tank, the location of the tank, the lighting, then the substrate .
.. . maybe consider food source if you are going to be truly authentic
you will need some live food . . . And take notes, oh my yes, take
notes and plenty of pictures along the way. This should keep you busy
well into your retirement years. Did I mention the diving doggie and
the mermaid who blows bubble out her . . .

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me