Looking for Utric/Genlisea suggestions for underwater growth display

[RSS]

I'm looking for a good single species to display in the setup below it. The temps for this one will be in the 65-75 range year and will not get any dormancy. I'm wanting to allow for space for flowers so a keep the stalk height in mind. Lighting will be provided by some LEDs I figure, so there should be plenty.

The idea would be to copy El Gecko Genlisea glass thingie but in a larger scale and most likely with a Utric, although I'm not opposed to a Genlisea. So I'm looking for a species that will flower in the height provided and put on a little show in the water below.

I have a few ideas but I don't want to drive any suggestions so I'll keep them to myself for the time being.

I'm not opposed to importing something as I will likely be importing a few thing in the Spring.

Suggestions, comments?


Curved Front by randallsimpson, on Flickr

 

[RL7836]

U. humboldtii wins hands down (imho) - two types of interesting photosynthetic growth (paddles & fern-like leaves) & one of the largest bladders in the utric world. While humbo's are considered HL plants, ~2 years ago I stuck one on the windowsill. It handles summer temps, direct sunshine from the east, horrible low humidity in the winter - and keeps growing (plus it flowered last spring).

One suggestion: I'd consider modifying your design to allow access to the lower water region (cleaning, water change, insertion of live food, etc) as things can get nasty.

A few years ago, I made several small glass tanks to hold a 4x4x4 netpot just for this purpose (I was not happy with a curved walls in rev 1 as they distorted pics too much). Last fall, I finally planted one with some U. humboldtii & placed it on the windowsill. Growth has been slow but fairly steady. Hopefully in another year I'll have plenty of large bladders to feed daphnia & mosquito larvae.

 

[Jcal]

U. Reniformis and U. Nelumbifolia both makes decent sized bladders that grow out of my pots and into the water column. I have not had them flower and they might be alittle large for this setup. Just giving you advise on what i grow personally. I would lean more toward Genlisea unless there is a Utric I am overlooking.

 

[RSS]

U. humboldtii wins hands down (imho) - two types of interesting photosynthetic growth (paddles & fern-like leaves) & one of the largest bladders in the utric world. While humbo's are considered HL plants, ~2 years ago I stuck one on the windowsill. It handles summer temps, direct sunshine from the east, horrible low humidity in the winter - and keeps growing (plus it flowered last spring).

One suggestion: I'd consider modifying your design to allow access to the lower water region (cleaning, water change, insertion of live food, etc) as things can get nasty.

A few years ago, I made several small glass tanks to hold a 4x4x4 netpot just for this purpose (I was not happy with a curved walls in rev 1 as they distorted pics too much). Last fall, I finally planted one with some U. humboldtii & placed it on the windowsill. Growth has been slow but fairly steady. Hopefully in another year I'll have plenty of large bladders to feed daphnia & mosquito larvae.

U. humboldtii is one of my fallbacks if nothing better comes up, this tank is just not tall enough for a closed top. How well did yours grow in household humidity?

How tall was the flower stalk for your humboldtii flower?

I was hoping to use U. humboldtii for another upcoming project that I think would showcase it better.

The tank is a prebuilt one that is just sitting in a closet, I'm not a fan of rounded glass but I already have it so I should use it for something. I'll have to put some thought into cleaning the lower region.

U. Reniformis and U. Nelumbifolia both makes decent sized bladders that grow out of my pots and into the water column. I have not had them flower and they might be alittle large for this setup. Just giving you advise on what i grow personally. I would lean more toward Genlisea unless there is a Utric I am overlooking.

Both of these would require an open top and I've never had luck keeping either of these healthy in my general household humidity. There are hundreds of Utrics, so I know we are overlooking like 20

 

[RL7836]

How well did yours grow in household humidity?

All of my potted humbo's reach about the same size - 7-10" tall with paddles ~0.8-1.3" wide. This didn't change when I put this plant on the windowsill. The humbo that grows up from the bottom area of my 75 gal tank is 2-3 times as large.

How tall was the flower stalk for your humboldtii flower?

Roughly 15" iirc.

Both of these would require an open top and I've never had luck keeping either of these healthy in my general household humidity.

I've been reluctant to put U. nelumbifolia on the windowsill because the leaves are quite thin. However, multiple pots of U. reniformis have done well there.

There are hundreds of Utrics, so I know we are overlooking like 20

Probably but most utrics fall into the 'little weedy' category - which might be required if you want it to live within the confines of your setup - especially if you want the flower to stay in - that would even rule out U. longifolia & praelonga. I've never grown U. calycifida - would any of the cultivars in that species work?

 

[Cthulhu138]

I've done similar things with both Genlisea and Utricularia. One hint I can give is, make a removable cover for the water part to keep light from getting in. Blocking the light from entering will stop algae growth and, be a very helpful feature in a difficult to clean set up like this.

 

[RSS]

Probably but most utrics fall into the 'little weedy' category - which might be required if you want it to live within the confines of your setup - especially if you want the flower to stay in - that would even rule out U. longifolia & praelonga. I've never grown U. calycifida - would any of the cultivars in that species work?

If U. praelonga had a better looking flower I might try to make that one work, but I don't want another generic yellow flower. I think I could put a pot of U. calycidifa in my closet and it would grow just fine, I have dug up entire plants UNDER the medium with this species. A lot...its a really weird plant.

The more I think about it the more U. humboldtii stands out from the rest. I'll see if I can find a spot on a windowsill and do a low humidity test run for a month or two before I proceed.

Using U. humboldtii would allow for a larger water and medium area since the tank would then just be a fancy pot. There is no way it would fit in there and look right.

I've done similar things with both Genlisea and Utricularia. One hint I can give is, make a removable cover for the water part to keep light from getting in. Blocking the light from entering will stop algae growth and, be a very helpful feature in a difficult to clean set up like this.

I'll defiantly add a cover.

 

[RSS]

Something I've been wanting to try with the "marginal" loving Utrics for a while, and I think it might be the best option here.

I will be adding holes to all the sides of the styrofoam cube. The idea is to add a light weight water absorbent medium into the styro cube and use it as the pot. Fill the glass cube about 1/2 way with water and add the styro pot. The entire pot should float on top of the water line allowing a wicking medium (sponge or sphagnum come to mind) to keep the pot medium moist. This idea is borrowed from some of the seed starting kits so the concept works, now will a Utric like it?

The way a lot of the Utrics I have grow suggests they would actually prefer selective access to all three areas, aquatic/marginal/emersed, this would provide that in one easy to maintain package. Maybe

I will be adding a small clipping of U. humboldtii for a windowsill test run hopefully by the end of the week.

Thoughts?

DSC_0055 by randallsimpson, on Flickr

 

[RSS]

Finished the test setup and its now on a windowsill.

I punched some holes to allow the Utric to roam if it wants to and siliconed up all the surfaces just in case of any chemicals or anything odd. I cut some sponge type material (seed starting sponges I had) to act as wicks. and added tree fern fiber into the main pot.

DSC_0065 by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Top view

DSC_0064 by randallsimpson, on Flickr

I added two rubber bands to hold the entire pot under water to help with the transition from where it was to this setup. Once the water evaporates to the floating level I'll remove the rubber bands and just let it be. I would assume I'll lose the two leaves in this process.

DSC_0066 by randallsimpson, on Flickr

 

[EdaxFlamma]

I know it's a bit late and not related to plant choice but if you wanted to augment your design at a later date this was the image that came to mind as I read your title: http://users.humboldt.edu/rziemer/zphotos/GenliseaCPNv24n2cover.jpg

I tried to find a link to the article but a very brief search didn't yield anything.

I do like the floating pot idea though! This way you don't have to worry about evaporation and exposed roots as much.

 

[RSS]

Here is the test setup right now, so far so good! The original leaves died as expected. No visible underwater growth yet.

Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

 

[RSS]

Well it has been about a year since I updated this odd little box and it has exceeded any expectations I could have had.

Here it is in its home, just sitting on a windowsill floating in some algae coated water. I push the entire block down into the water ever week or two and top off the water with RO water, sometimes fert water. No real rime or reason. I have yet to change out the original water.

Back of the Utric.
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Front
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Top
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Close-up
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Runner looking for another home
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Some growths are starting to get out of the side holes.
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

Bad photo, but you can see that tiny run of bladders that is growing down into the water, almost all of the growth is staying inside the box.
Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr

 

[Knuckles]

Nice little boat full of plants you have there.

 

[BobZ]

I know it's a bit late and not related to plant choice but if you wanted to augment your design at a later date this was the image that came to mind as I read your title: http://users.humboldt.edu/rziemer/zphotos/GenliseaCPNv24n2cover.jpg

I tried to find a link to the article but a very brief search didn't yield anything.

Here is the short comment from page 31 of the June 1995 CPN associated with the front cover photo.

On the front cover, we see how Geoff Wong has cleverly grown Genlisea violacea in a shallow tray with holes in the bottom and setting over a clear container of water so that we can clearly see the twisted trap arms. A few years ago, very few people had genliseas in their collections; now, many of us have five or six species. But we rarely see the traps unless we unearth the plant, often damaging it. Photographing the traps has also been a challenge. But now we see them clearly and Joe Mazrimas has made a fine photo.

 

[RSS]

Photo taken on Jan 9 2016 for reference in the NASC auctions. Too busy to take another photo this morning but it is still growing nicely. The tips of the "paddles" are sunburned from too much light in that window.


Utricularia humboldtii by randallsimpson, on Flickr