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| I have my tropical pond plants in a 45 gallon fish tank. The tank gets a lot of south east sun all day in my dining room. The plants are a huge 4 year old tropical calla lily, gunnera, variegated papyrus, silk stockings arrowhead and another arrowhead that is bright lime green and was just described as a tropical arrowhead when I bought it.
I have been able to keep the tropical calla lily in a rubbermaid container for the past 3 winters. It has even flowered in the winter. It seems to like the cooler water as it starts growing really well as it cools off in the fall. However, I did not have any success with the gunnera. Does the water need to be kept warmer? Is it possible to winter it over inside? I was told that the silk stockings arrowhead is not hardy in zone 5, it has died off, but I brought it inside to keep it from freezing. Should I do anything different? Is it hardy, should I just sink it in the pond? The other lime green arrowhead is still growing. Any clue what it may be? If I do put an aquarium heater in the tank, what would the best temperature be? I was thinking maybe 60-70 degrees? Thanks, Peg |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by buyorsell888 Zone 8 Portland OR (My Page) on Fri, Oct 30, 09 at 15:04
| My guess is that the gunnera would prefer to be drier in winter. They are garden hardy here so I'm not familiar with growing them in colder climates. I do use an aquarium heater in my greenhouse pond for tropical waterlilies, papyrus and cyperus (umbrella grass) and I keep it at 70*, the papyrus and cyperus both lived before I heated the water and I have some in water pots in there that are not heated but the waterlilies always died until I heated the water. |
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| Gunnera doesn't really like saturated soil conditions, it prefers its crown growing above the water table. It will probably grow berserk at room temperatures when you improve its soil conditions You might need a bigger pot for Gunnera All the plants will cope fine with cool frost free well lit conditions, no need for extra heat. 70's temps are likely to get them growing too big and fast indoors The lime green arrowhead may well be, arrowhead... only pickerel is likely to be confused with it |
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| I am a bit confused about the suggestions for drier soil conditions. The Gunnera is sold in the Milw area as a pond plant in a mesh pot. It has been very happy in my shaded pond all summer with the crown slightly about the water level. Should I repot it in a regular pot for the winter and keep it moist? Or Should I keep it in the aquarium with the mesh pot in about 6" of water? Thanks! |
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- Posted by buyorsell888 Zone 8 Portland OR (My Page) on Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 11:44
| Gunnera tolerates pond conditions but it isn't really an aquatic plant. I have seen mature specimens in multiple botanical gardens but never in water. Many plants can tolerate being in water in summer but not in winter. Cannas are another of these. |
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