Growing Dwarf Baby Tears emerged?

Kinection · 12-25-2012, 06:35 AM

I've been looking for a carpet plant in every LFS
I could find and dwarf baby tears were the ones
I could only find. I don't know if I'll be able to grow
them in an outside tank. I know it needs co2 and
high light, but would it be able to survive in an
outside tank that gets 10 hours of light a day?
My substrate will be Eco-complete with osmocote.
Since my LFS sells only like 4 strands for $5, I'll
need to grow it fast, so I'll be using the dry start
method. I have some questions though.
1. If I use 1 inch of MTS, and 3 cm of gravel,
would they be ok? (not using sand)
2. Everyday I will have to add water to it right?
How much? I'll be growing it in a 10 gal.
3. Once it grows enough, I can just take it and put
in the main tank? ( can I just lay it on the substrate or do I have to cover the roots?)
4. Can they withstand temps of 40F during the night?
Sorry for so many questions, I didn't want to throw $5 down
the drain.

Kehy · 12-25-2012, 07:00 AM

I've grown HC in emersed situations using sunlight. I use:
-windowsill with bright, but not direct light for 6-18 hours
-Had mine on a seedling substrate (very fluffy, lots of compost and sphagnum moss that held moisture without being wet)
-Grew things in clear plastic bags that held in lots of moisture, but opened for at least an hour a day to air out, added a sprinkle of water whenever I remembered , usually twice a week

Really, once it gets going it'll grow just fine as long as you can avoid mold. Make sure there's air circulation for awhile to help keep down mold

Kinection · 12-25-2012, 07:53 PM

Oh I see. I've read some forums about HC needing high
light and CO2, could I dose excel to replace CO2?
I have Vals, would the Excel kill them?

Kehy · 12-25-2012, 08:58 PM

Vals can't be grown emersed, but they'd love excel in the water. HC likes it too, but you don't need it or co2 for emersed growth. Sometimes excel is used for mold control, but I haven't noticed that it did much.

aokashi · 12-25-2012, 09:03 PM

excel may cause val melt :O

Kehy · 12-25-2012, 10:05 PM

Hmmm, I've never had that problem, but your millage may vary.

Kinection · 12-26-2012, 06:28 AM

Sorry for the misunderstanding,
I mean when I transfer the HC
into the main tank, I would dose
Excel, but I wondered if it would
kill my Vals.

Kehy · 12-26-2012, 06:47 PM

I would dose lightly, but honestly, I've never had issues with vals melting. My usual problem is them taking over, hahaha

Axelrodi202 · 12-26-2012, 06:52 PM

If anything Excel helps to keep the vals at a manageable rate of growth.

Kinection · 12-27-2012, 12:36 AM

Ok, let's see how it goes.

12-25-2012, 06:35 AM	#1
Kinection Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 929	Growing Dwarf Baby Tears emerged? I've been looking for a carpet plant in every LFS I could find and dwarf baby tears were the ones I could only find. I don't know if I'll be able to grow them in an outside tank. I know it needs co2 and high light, but would it be able to survive in an outside tank that gets 10 hours of light a day? My substrate will be Eco-complete with osmocote. Since my LFS sells only like 4 strands for $5, I'll need to grow it fast, so I'll be using the dry start method. I have some questions though. 1. If I use 1 inch of MTS, and 3 cm of gravel, would they be ok? (not using sand) 2. Everyday I will have to add water to it right? How much? I'll be growing it in a 10 gal. 3. Once it grows enough, I can just take it and put in the main tank? ( can I just lay it on the substrate or do I have to cover the roots?) 4. Can they withstand temps of 40F during the night? Sorry for so many questions, I didn't want to throw $5 down the drain.

12-26-2012, 06:52 PM	#9
Axelrodi202 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Morris County, NJ Posts: 1,665	If anything Excel helps to keep the vals at a manageable rate of growth. __________________ O_o / /_______________________________ \| BWAAAH IMA FIRIHN MA LAZER!!!!!!!!! \_\

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12-25-2012, 07:00 AM	#2
Kehy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ellensburg, WA Posts: 404	I've grown HC in emersed situations using sunlight. I use: -windowsill with bright, but not direct light for 6-18 hours -Had mine on a seedling substrate (very fluffy, lots of compost and sphagnum moss that held moisture without being wet) -Grew things in clear plastic bags that held in lots of moisture, but opened for at least an hour a day to air out, added a sprinkle of water whenever I remembered , usually twice a week Really, once it gets going it'll grow just fine as long as you can avoid mold. Make sure there's air circulation for awhile to help keep down mold

12-25-2012, 07:53 PM	#3
Kinection Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 929	Oh I see. I've read some forums about HC needing high light and CO2, could I dose excel to replace CO2? I have Vals, would the Excel kill them?

12-25-2012, 08:58 PM	#4
Kehy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ellensburg, WA Posts: 404	Vals can't be grown emersed, but they'd love excel in the water. HC likes it too, but you don't need it or co2 for emersed growth. Sometimes excel is used for mold control, but I haven't noticed that it did much.

12-25-2012, 09:03 PM	#5
aokashi Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New York, New York Posts: 1,431	excel may cause val melt :O

12-25-2012, 10:05 PM	#6
Kehy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ellensburg, WA Posts: 404	Hmmm, I've never had that problem, but your millage may vary.

12-26-2012, 06:28 AM	#7
Kinection Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 929	Sorry for the misunderstanding, I mean when I transfer the HC into the main tank, I would dose Excel, but I wondered if it would kill my Vals.

12-26-2012, 06:47 PM	#8
Kehy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ellensburg, WA Posts: 404	I would dose lightly, but honestly, I've never had issues with vals melting. My usual problem is them taking over, hahaha

12-27-2012, 12:36 AM	#10
Kinection Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 929	Ok, let's see how it goes.