My emersed planter box

I started my emersed planter box in February 2008 with some emersed Echinodorus and Cryptocorynes bought from Teo farm. The potting mix was formed with a packet of Horti Soil (lower layer) and a packet of garden soil (upper layer) bought from NTUC. As compared to my emersed tank, this planter box sitting in my balcony has more luck with flowering cryptocorynes.

C. pontederiifolia

Unknown sp. bought from Teo farm, possibly a varient of C. wendtii?

runner of C. minima

A mini minima in the making...... Yabadabadoo!

pH of various substrates (updated on 20th Dec 09)

I have been testing the pH of various substrates which I had. I place the various substrates inside tupperwares and fill the tupperwares with bottled distilled water.


The results after 1-2 weeks of test are as follow:

1. plain distilled water: pH 6.6
2. GEX (light green packaging): pH 6.6
3. Kanuma soil: pH 6.4 - 6.5
4. 'Kotobuki' brand Dr Soil substrate: pH 6.5 - 6.6
5. used 'ADA' brand Amazonia + Aficana (50%:50%): pH 6.2 - 6.3
6. 'Horti' brand peat moss: pH 4.0 - 4.5
7. 'Horti' brand soil: pH 4.5
8. Lapis sand with coral chips: pH 8.0
9. Sphagnum moss from Japan (don't bother using low grade ones): pH 5.0
10. Akadama soil: pH 6.6
11. Lapis sand: pH 7.8
12. 'Muji' brand substrate: pH 7.4
13. Ketapang Leaf: pH <4.0
14. 'Aquamedi' brand Black Peat Granules: pH 4.0 - 4.5
15. Ocean Free brand Super Pro-Peat Granules: pH 4.0 - 4.5
16. Garden soil 'burnt soil': pH 8.0
17. ADA Amazonia II: pH 6.2
18. Volcanic rock: pH 7.2
19. First Layer Pure Laterite: pH 6.8
20. used ADA Amazonia: pH 6.8
21. SUDO Medaka Pink Sand: pH => 8.0
22. SUDO Crystal Orange Sand: pH 7.4
23. SUDO Real Brown Sand: pH 7.8
24. SUDO Bottom Sand: pH 7.2
25. used ADA Amazonia mixed with lapis sand: pH 7.0
26. live sphagnam moss: pH 5.0 - 5.5
27. used ADA Africana: pH 6.2 - 6.4
28. coconut husk: pH 7.0
29. Magic Soil: pH 6.4
30. lawn sand: pH 7.0

To arrange the substrates (distilled water to be used with them) in terms of ascending pH rounded to the nearest 0.5:

1. pH 4.0: 'Horti' brand peat moss, dried ketapang leaves (will cause discolouration of water readily), 'Aquamedi' brand Black Peat Granules, Ocean Free brand Super Pro-Peat Granules
2. pH 4.5: 'Horti' brand soil
3. pH 5.0: Sphagnum moss from Japan (don't bother using low grade ones), live sphagnam moss
4. pH 5.5: no suggestion so far
5. pH 6.0: ADA Amazonia II
6. pH 6.5: GEX substrate (light green packaging), Kanuma soil, 'Kotobuki' brand Dr Soil substrate, Akadama soil, used ADA Africana, Magic Soil
7. pH 7.0: First Layer Pure Laterite, Volcanic rock, used ADA Amazonia, SUDO Bottom Sand, used ADA Amazonia mixed with lapis sand, coconut husk, lawn sand
8. pH 7.5: 'Muji' brand substrate, SUDO Crystal Orange Sand
9. pH 8.0: Lapis sand, Garden soil 'burnt soil', SUDO Medaka Pink Sand, SUDO Real Brown Sand

pH tests are conducted using Zoolek Aquatest pH x 2 (4.5 - 9.0 and 6.0 - 8.0). I will add on to the list when I conduct more tests on more substrates. Hopefully these information will be useful when selecting substrates to achieve a certain pH either for potting mix or for conditioning the water for cultivating cryptocorynes.
The below are the pH of the water at the various natural habitat of various species of cryptocoryne which I had the good fortune to visit:

1. C. affinis 'West Pahang' - 7.2
2. C. auriculata 'Sungai Modor' - 6.0 to 6.5
3. C. bullosa 'Pakan' - 6.5
4. C. bullosa 'Sungai Seblak' - 5.5
5. C. cordata 'West Kalimantan' - 5.5
6. C. cordata 'Rompin' - 5.0 to 5.5
7. C. ciliata 'Sungei Sedili Besar' - about 6.5 if I never remembered wrongly
8. C. elliptica 'Perak' - 5.0 to 5.5
9. C. ferruginea 'Balai Ringin - 4.5 or less
10. C. ferruginea 'Bau' - 6.8 to 7.0
11. C. fusca 'West Kalimantan' - 5.5
12. C. griffithii 'Bintan' - 6.8
13. C. griffithii 'Karimun' - 6.5
14. C. griffithii 'Upper Thomson' - 5.5
15. C. keei 'Jambusan' - 8.0 to 8.5
16. C. keei 'West Kalimantan' - 6.5
17. C. lingua 'Sibu' - 6.5 to 7.0
18. C. longicauda 'Betong' - 4.5 or less
19. C. longicauda 'Bintan' - 6.6
20. C. longicauda 'Lachau' - 4.5
21. C. longicauda 'Pantu' - 4.5 or less
22. C. minima ' Perak' - 5.0 to 5.5
23. C. nurii 'Mersing' - 5.5 to 6
24. C. nurii 'West Pahang' - 7.0
25. C. pallidinervia 'Sibu' - 4.5 or less
26. C. striolata 'Sungai Assan' - 5.0 to 5.5
27. C. schulzei 'Kota Tinggi' - 4.5
28. C. uenoi 'Sabal Kruin' - 6.5
29. C. xpurpurea 'Tasik Bera' - 5.0 to 5.5
30. C. cf. xpurpurea 'Mersing Barat' - 5.5
31. C. yujii 'Sungai Nibong' - 4.5
32. C. sp. 'Kota Tinggi' - 6.5
33. C. sp. 'Lingga Island, Daik Timur' 'White Line' - 6.4
34. C. sp. 'Lingga Island, Reddish / Yellowish Flower' - 5.0 to 5.5
35. C. sp. 'Pahang River' - 5.5
36. C. sp. 'Peninsula Malaysia' - 5.0

Disclaimer: The accuracy of the above tests are subjected to the accuracy of the test kit used, which I have not verified via any form of calibration. There is no conclusion of the final pH that could be achieved for each substrate as I tested the pH at the 2nd week only. The amount of test substrate and distilled water used is not consistently measured. As distilled water is used, it would not be representative of the pH that could be achieved if you use say tap water instead which has more pH buffering capability?
Updated on: 20th Dec 2009

C. nurii

I obtained my C. nurii 'Central Pahang' in mid March 2008. I had not yet set up my emersed tank then and therefore had to store it in a mineral water bottle first. This was a photograph of it taken in mid April 2008.

It was grown in used ADA Amazonia + Aficana (50%:50%) and was doing fine so when I transferred it into the main section of my emersed tank (see post on my emersed tank for more information) during May 2008, I retained the type of substrate used and inserted 1/4 Wonder-Gro root+ tablet.

After another 2 months, this is how it currently looks like in July 2008:

How long more do I have to tend it before it will show me some of its "true colour"?

Decision: lets lower the pH again!

Considering that my C. minima and C. xpurpurea have been growing well in low pH condition for the past 2 months, I decided to lower the pH of the water in my emsered tank's main section back to 4.5 again by reintroducing a bag of 'Horti' brand peat moss.

When the new plantlets of these cryptocoryes mature, I will then experiment to grow them in higher pH (i.e. pH of about 6) conditions. Lets not take any unnecessary risk now......

pH of emersed tank's water shifted!

I did a pH measurement of the main section of my emersed tank today and discovered that it has increased from 4.5 (measured 2 weeks ago) to 6.0! Reasons could be attibuted to the following:

1. lack of pH buffering substance in the water (I removed the bag of peat moss from the water about 1 month ago after confirming that the pH is low enough)
2. introduction of more fishes (added 01 betta, 02 croaking gouramis and 01 Aplocheilus panchax which I caught during my field trip) + increased feeding

I do not think I currently have cryptocorynes which require really low pH to survive (or do I???). I will have to closely monitor the entire situation before decided if further actions are required to be taken to lower the pH again. So pals, for those who wishes to have a low stable pH in your emersed cryptocoryne tank, think twice before adding fishes!

C. xpurpurea

C. x purpurea 'Lundu' is another cryptocoryne that in my opinion is currently growing well in the main section of my emersed tank (see post on my emersed tank for more information). I obtained this cryptocoryne in mid April 2008 also and this was how it looked like then:

I am growing it in used ADA Amazonia + Aficana (50%:50%) mixed with Horti brand peat moss also as well as with a 1/4 of a Wonder-Gro Root+ tablet inserted. There is already a new plantlet growing out at one side already currently (anyone interested in an exchange?). The new leaves look rather different from the old leaf which was attached when I first obtained it, they are more elliptically shaped and less bullated.

The roots are growing well too as can be seen in the below photograph.

C. minima

Cryptocoryne minima 'Perak' happened to be one of the cryptocoryne that is in my opinion currently growing well in the main section of my emersed tank (see post on my emersed tank for more information). I obtained the cryptocoryne in mid April 2008 and this was how it looked like in early May 2008 with a new leaf:

This is how it looks like now after close to 2.5 months, notice the new leaves are not bullated and have a lighter shade of green:

Look at the healthy root growth growing out of the pot into the water:

The substrate that I used for this cryptocoryne is used ADA Amazonia + Aficana (50%:50%) mixed with peat moss (Horti brand) plus 1/4 of a Wonder-Gro Root+ tablet inserted. It looks like there is a runner root newly formed (in the 2nd photograph, on the right side of the cryptocoryne), hopefully I can get it to propagate and flower soon, wish me luck!

My Emersed Tank Setup

This tank was set up in mid April 2008. It is a 2.5 ft tank covered with glass sheets (broken down to 2 sections, the front section is a smaller piece for ease of lifting up to tend to the cryptocorynes inside). Just a single 18W FL is switched on for about 6hrs a day to reduce the heat build-up in the tank. A thermometer and hygrometer is attached in the tank to monitor the internal conditions regularly, the average conditions are 27 - 28 degrees Celsius and 85% - 90% relative humidity.

Pieces of plastic egg crates are used to create a raised platform on which the pots of cryptocorynes sit. Some fishes (wild bettas and gouramis as well as boraras) are kept therein to prevent mosquitoes breeding (if any). The water in the main tank has a pH of around 4.5 by submersing a bag of peat moss (I used 'Horti Moss' which can easily be purchased from NTUC supermarket) inside for a number of days. The water level is generally about 2cm below the substrate top level. Black water extract is also added to condition the water.

2 separate plastic tubs are also placed on the raised platform to allow me to experiment with plants requiring less acidic water conditions and yet housed in the same tank to maintain the humidity level required. The pH of the water in these tubs are close to neutral, between 6.8 to 7.2.

Welcome to my cryptocoryne blog!

Hi All,

I finally decided to start a cryptocoryne blog too to record my experience in collecting and cultivating cryptocorynes. I can be considered a new comer in this interest group and have only set up my emersed cultivation tank in mid April 2008. Through blogging, I hope to make many friends all over the world who share the same interest, and exchange information as well as cryptocorynes! Thanks!

Regards,
T S Wang aka 'illumbomb'

My Cryptocoryne List (updated on 20th Mar 2010)

My current Cryptocoryne collection:

1. C. affinis 'Selangor'
2. C. affinis 'Gua Musang' (N - Sep 08)
3. C. affinis 'Pahang'
4. C. affinis 'West Pahang' (N - Mar 09)
5. C. auriculata 'Sungai Mador' (N - Sep 09)
6. C. bullosa 'Pakan' (N - Aug 09)
7. C. bullosa 'Sungai Seblak' (N - Aug 09)
8. C. ciliata 'Sungei Sedili Besar' (Dead)
9. C. cordata 'Mersing'
10. C. cordata 'Rosanervig'
11. C. cordata 'Rompin' (N - Jul 09)
12. C. cordata 'West Kalimantan' (N - May 09)
13. C. cordata 'Sri Aman'
14. C. cf. cordata 'Dayu'
15. C. elliptica 'Perak' (N - Mar 09)
16. C. elliptica 'Penang'
17. C. ferruginea 'Balai Ringin'
18. C. ferruginea 'Bau'
19. C. ferruginea 'Sungei Kerait' (F - May 09)
20. C. ferruginea 'Serikim'
21. C. fusca 'West Kalimantan' (C - Jun 09)
22. C. griffithii 'Bintan' (C - Jan 09)
23. C. griffithii 'Nee Soon'
24. C. griffithii 'Karimun' (N - Jan 09)
25. C. ideii 'Kalimantan' (Dead)
26. C. cf. ideii 'West Kalimantan' (N - May 09)
27. C. keei 'Jambusan'
28. C. keei 'West Kalimantan' (N - May 09)
29. C. lingua 'Sibu' - (N - Aug 09)
30. C. longicauda 'Betong' (N - Aug 09)
31. C. longicauda 'Bintan' (M - Dec 08, F - Apr 09)
32. C. longicauda 'Johor' (N - Dec 08, F - Mar 09)
33. C. longicauda 'Lachau'
34. C. longicauda 'Lidong'
35. C. longicauda 'Marup / Engkilili'
36. C. longicauda 'Pantu'
37. C. minima 'Perak'
38. C. cf. minima 'Ponduk Tanjung'
39. C. cf. nurii 'Bintan' (C - Feb 09 to Mar 09)
40. C. nurii 'Mersing' (N - Apr 09)
41. C. nurii 'Central Pahang'
42. C. nurii 'West Pahang' (N - Mar 09)
43. C. nurii 'Terengganu' (C - Mar 09)
44. C. pallidinervia 'Sibu' (N - Aug 09)
45. C. pontederiifolia 'Upper Thomson' (F - Oct 08 to Jan 09)
46. C. schulzei 'Kota Tinggi'
47. C. scurrilis 'Indragiri Hulu, Sumatra' (M - Apr 09)
48. C. striolata 'Lundu' Red (Dead)
49. C. striolata 'Sungai Assan' (N - Sep 09)
50. C. striolata 'Gunung Besar' (N - Feb 10)
51. C. uenoi 'Sungei Sabal Kruin'
52. C. villosa 'Batang Siat Central Sumatra'
53. C. xpurpurea 'Lundu'
54. C. xpurpurea 'Tasik Bera'
55. C. cf. xpurpurea 'Mersing Barat' (M - Mar 09, C - Apr 09)
56. C. yujii 'Sungai Nibong' (M - Sep 09)
57. C. sp. 'Anambas Islands' (M - May 09)
58. C. sp. 'Natunas Islands'
59. C. sp. 'Lingga Island
60. C. sp. 'Lingga Island, Yellow Flower' (C - Nov 08)
61. C. sp. 'Lingga Island, Red Flower' (M - Nov 08, N - Jan 09, C - Jan 09)
62. C. sp. 'Lingga Island, Daik Timur, White Line'
63. C. sp. 'Kota Tinggi' (N- Dec 08 and July 09, C -Dec 08, F - Apr 09)
64. C. sp. 'North Pahang'
65. C. sp. 'Pahang River'
66. C. sp. 'Malay Peninsula' (M - Apr 09)
67. C. sp. 'Lundu'
68. C. sp. 'Singkep Island'
69. C. sp. 'Sungai Bawang Central Sumatra' (Dead)
70. C. sp. 'Kampong Durain Central Sumatra' (Dead)

Note: F = bloomed in cultivation, C = collected specimen with spathe opening, M = collected specimen with spathe melted, N = seen blooming in natural habitat, MMM YY = month and year of flowering
Cryptocoryne wishlist:

1. Any species (with origin known) not listed above!

Updated on: 20th Mar 2010