This is an ‘Aquarium’ strain of Cryptocoryne longicauda. Its the same plant I almost killed last year when it flowered. Due to a nutrient deficiency, the plant had collapsed as it started flowering. This time around, the plant is very robust and the spathe is huge!
My Cryptocoryne alba flowered again. Normally, I don’t bother posting multiple pictures up but yet again, the spathe looks a little different.
The throat is a much darker pink, almost mauve colored, than the previous spathes.
I really want to divide this plant up – I think I have 3-4 plants in there now, but I’m afraid the plant might not be able to handle it. I don’t want to lose it.
A few months ago, I’ve mentioned that Florida Aquatic Nurseries had started producing a new varigated cultivar of Cryptocoryne wendtii, which they had named ‘Florida Sunset’. Though still being produced in limited quantities, its finally becoming available at local stores. I picked one up yesterday. The leaves are highly varigated, brown, green, cream and pink colors. Here’s a close up of one of the leaves.
Bonus – it already had a spathe one it.
It looks nice! Wonder how it’ll look submersed.
I haven’t had the chance to update my blog in a while. I’ve just been way too busy recently and haven’t had time to download and edit pictures to put up. However, I do have some progress to report:
1) Cryptocoryne nurii seeds that I put in vitro culture are progressing nicely. I think of the 20+ seeds I put in, I probably have 10 viable plantlets now. I move three of the smaller ones into a shoot multiplication media yesterday. I’ll let you know how it progresses.
2) Cryptocoryne ciliata in vitro was doing quite well, with multiple shoots. Then, after being in culture for over 6 weeks, it suddenly got contaminated. I cannot figure out why, but the explant no longer viable. I do have some pictures of it a few days prior to the collapse – I’ll post them up soon.
3) I harvested about 20 additional seeds of Cryptocoryne nurii, and set them up in vitro. They’re looking good!
4) Cryptocoryne noritoi is doing well in vitro. I transferred it to a shoot multiplication media yesterday.
5) Cryptocoryne albida is coming along nicely in vitro. I have to transfer it to a shoot multiplication media soon.
6) L. meeboldii ‘pink’ is doing surprisingly well in vitro – I’m excited! I should transfer it soon.
7) GA3 continues to mutate a lot of my plants. I’m thinking about using a PGR to counter the overdose. I must be nuts.
Cryptocoryne longicauda ‘brown’ flowered – but I didn’t get to take any pictures.
I would LOVE to have a laminar flow hood – even though so far, I have not had any environmental contamination – I think. All the contamination seems to start spreading from the explant itself. I have some really cool pictures – just need to find some time and edit them.