Submerged Utric's

[gregh]

I would like to combine two of my past times and grow a Utricularia as a grounscover in an aquarium. I know graminifolia has been used for this, but I can't seem to find a domestic source. Does anyone know of another more common species (subulata? I have plenty) that can be grown this way?

[glider14]

i would think any of them would be ok to grow aquatically. i dont see why they couldnt...
Alex

[thwyman]

Try dichotoma. I believe Tim Malcolm once mentioned that he grew that one submerged for a time. Others that should work would be bifida and volubilis

[Sean Spence]

Some forms of U. dichotoma perform better in submerged conditions than others. The form I grow from Cheshunt in Victoria, southern Australia grows better aquatically than it does as a terrestrial.

U. uliginosa commonly grows as an aquatic around Sydney. I've seen it growing at least a metre below the surface attached to a concrete dam wall.

[mabudon]

Heck, you might try U.subulata anyways, since it's not like you couldn't replace any losses- I wouldn't be surprised if that stuff would grow aquatically- matter of fact, I think I have an experiment to set up now Thanks for the inspiration- I'll put some U subulata in a peat "soup" and let it settle and see what happens- if it dies, I might actually be happier than if it works

[gregh]

Thanks for the suggestions. Mabudon, I'll give U. subulata a try. Your right, what have I got to lose? Chances are whatever I put in will have some with it anyway

[matti]

GregH, have you tryed Utricularia biloba? I belive it has the most pretty flowers of all the utrics.

[thwyman]

matti said:

GregH, have you tryed Utricularia biloba? I belive it has the most pretty flowers of all the utrics.

Being an avid grower of section Orchidioides I would have to argue with that statement

[Sean Spence]

thwyman said:

matti said:

GregH, have you tryed Utricularia biloba? I belive it has the most pretty flowers of all the utrics.

Being an avid grower of section Orchidioides I would have to argue with that statement

Agreed. The flower colour of U. biloba is arguably the prettiest of the genus but members of the Orchidioides and Iperua groups have it beaten on general aesthetics. In my opinion only of course.

U. biloba is an ideal candidate for aquarium culture though. Problem is you'd never see the flowers.

[glider14]

U. biloba is an ideal candidate for aquarium culture though. Problem is you'd never see the flowers.

why is that? is it like U. tricolor?
i think U. biloba has some absolutely gorgeous flowers! but. i think U. campbelliana (sp?) is the P. laueana of the utric world
Alex

[Sean Spence]

glider14 said:

U. biloba is an ideal candidate for aquarium culture though. Problem is you'd never see the flowers.

why is that? is it like U. tricolor?
i think U. biloba has some absolutely gorgeous flowers! but. i think U. campbelliana (sp?) is the P. laueana of the utric world
Alex

If it was grown in a deep aquarium the flowers would never reach the surface. From what I am aware, most of the Utricularia species that are grown in deep water do not tend to flower. In nature, U. biloba flowers as the waterlevel that it grows in is receding.

[glider14]

so it can be flowered just not in submerged conditions. is it one of those annual utrics? is it commercially availiable?
Alex

[matti]

Hello, a friend of mine (also a cp collector)who goes out looking for endangered species informs me that the species (biloba) flowers in the summer when the water floods the plant and gets very long flower spikes, I was on Bribie last august (winter) and looked at a site were Biloba had been found before and saw no flowers, maybe the Sydney form reacts different from the ones on Bribie, fraser and stradbroke island?.

Glider, it is a perenial plant and it is not avalible from nursery's.

[Sean Spence]

glider14 said:

so it can be flowered just not in submerged conditions. is it one of those annual utrics? is it commercially availiable?
Alex

As Matti has said, it is a perennial. You won't find it in many CP nurseries but is in a number of collections in the US- certainly not rare anyway.

I've got flowerbuds on one of my pots at the moment. This pot is grown in only about an inch of water and has small threadlike leaves. Other pots grown submerged have never flowered for me and have longer fernlike leaves.

I'm not sure of the growth patterns of the south east Queensland forms. I'd like to try them for myself should I get the chance.

[matti]

May we see some pics of your Biloba Sean?.