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So I noticed some yellowing of the leaves on a few of my plants a few days back and decided I'd treat with iron and other trace ferts. I didn't do a full dose, because I'm trying my best to fight off the algea. I now have about 10ppm of CO2 in my tank so I figured I'd have to start dosing ferts more often. I was wondering how long it would take the plant to color up again, because it's been a few (3-4) days without any change.

So, how long does it take a plant to 1) uptake the ferts in the water and 2) Show color in response to the ferts?

Thanks,
Matt

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi,

Well depends on the type of plant, for example anubias take much longer than stem plants and any echinodorus will not respond to it, since they get it from the roots, so you want to add a fert tablet near the base of the plants.

Cabomba and bacopa for example react preatty fast to the ferts, 5 days max.

So an anubias might take a couple weeks? How about green wendtii, are they considered a stem plant? How fast would the echinodorus respond to the plant tab? I put those in a couple days before liquid ferts.


Thanks for the help Falstaff. I was starting to worry but it looks like I still have a few days before I would notice any change.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Always welcome

Most probably they will loose the affected leaves and grow new ones, don't worry it's normal.

Wendtii can be a tricky one, since they can change their colors depending on the conditions, like light and even position in the tank, and varies from olive green and slightly brown, the underside is usually a light orange-brown. And no they aren't considered a stem plant.

Echinodorus will respond to the tab in the following way, old leaves may stay damaged and die, but you will see a major growth of new ones, they can also vary in color, depending on the specie. Also the affected leaves can regain strength but only if they never hit a yellowish color, which they did.

So maybe you want to cut off the affected yellow leaves of the echinodorus and let the new ones take their place, you will also notice they will grow faster if you trim them.

Don't worry this is common and your plants will regain their strength and even grow lushier with the ferts.

mattyboombatty,

Crypt's are considered "rosette" plants, as are lotus's, Echinodorus', Crinium, Banana plants, Val's & Sagittaria.

Stem plants include Alternantera, Bacopa, Cabomba's, Water Purslane, Egeria, Hemianthus, Plantains, Pennyworts, Hygrophila's, Ambulia, Ludwigia, Rotala's, & Shinnersia.

Ferns & Mosses include the Bolbitus, Oriental Water Fern (Ceratopteris thalictroides), Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus), Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana & Crystalwort (Riccia fluitans).

Happy planting matty


In wildness, nature is not human-hearted!