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Hi there,

When I first got my Ambulias, they were very nice bright green and grew very fast without CO2 or fertilizer (just laterite underneath the sand). But after I trimmed the top (they were growing out of the water), I now notice that the lower leaves are not as green anymore, but turning pale pinkish/brownish. The new shoots on the top are still green however. Is that an indication that they need more nutrients (iron?) from the water column or is it because the lower leaves are not getting as much light?

Thanks!

Last edited by upikabu at 25-Aug-2005 19:13

-P

I dont know if you mean the lower leaves like the bottom of the plant, or the leaves at the point where you cut it, being the new top of the plant?
Ambulia in good conditions can range from bright green to reddish in color depending on the species.
Leaves getting not enough light will just drop off leaving a bare stem. 2-3 times a year I pull mine and trim off the bottom stems, then re plant it.
Try to keep them thinned out enough for light
to get in there. If you are using a liquid fert maybe dose a little extra for the time being.


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Sorry, I meant the leaves on the lower half of the plant. Since they were bright green before (even though they got the same amount of light, probably even less before because the top was covering the surface), it seems like some kind of deficiency. I'm just not sure what. I just added Flourish this morning, but I'm wondering I need to get something like Flourish Iron.

Thanks!

Last edited by upikabu at 25-Aug-2005 18:58

-P

Is that an indication that they need more nutrients (iron?) from the water column or is it because the lower leaves are not getting as much light?

Could be that they are getting shaded by the top growth but Ambulia is not that light hungry. Unless totally shaded should be fine.

It's not Iron. An Iron deficiency will show up on nre growth way before old growth.

Yellowing of older bottom leaves is an indicator of Nitrogen defiency. I'd look at the Nitrates, but I wouldn't trust the test kit too much. They're bad at lower levels. If a test kit says 5-10ppm more then like it's zero.

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Thank you. I'll try adding NO3 and maybe separating the stems a bit.

-P

Hi, ive had exactly the same problem with my Ambulia after prunning it.

I dont have a definite answer, but im thinking that mabey it just needs a little more time.