Madagascar Lace Leaf Plant

[Fishnut]

I had one of these plants...didn't have a spot for it so I stuck it in a bare 10 gallon tank with a regular incandescent light bulb on it, figuring I would find a spot for it "one of these days".  I don't remember having a heater or anything fancy.  The plant grew like a weed!  It had leaves that were well beyond 12" because when I put it into it's new spot, it almost filled a 48" x 12" x 12" tank.  It went into it's dormant stage and I was never ab;e to get it back.

So...for the third time in the last 2 years, I bought one at La Niche a few weeks ago.  I want it to grow, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's about to go into it's dormant stage (as the rest of them have) because it stopped growing new leaves and has grown a flower stem.

How do I get it to live?!

[TLe041]

My MLL (also bought from La Niche last year) just started coming out of its dormant stage that it has been in for the last 4 months or so. This is its second dormancy since I've had it. I've never had to do anything special to it and it came back fine.

Here's a tip: like most plants, continuously cutting back the larger leaves will "train" the plant to take on a compact form. The MLL is no exception. I was able to keep mine less than 10" tall this way. It grew beautifully in my 6 gallon tank.

[Jeff1192]

You just need to leave it alone and it will come back. Just make sure you remember where it is in your tank so you don't disturb it. I have an aponogeton biovinianus and it has now gone dormant on my twice. Both times it was about 3 months and then is just started coming back again. Be patient and cross your fingers!

Jeff

[sas]

I too bought this plant a year ago and it had leaves but then it went into it's dormant stage.
When I changed the substrate to fluorite sand it took off again, and
produced 2 large leaves and seems to be stuck on a third smallish leaf.
Mine has stayed very low growing hugging the bottom of the tank.

A beautiful plant for sure but it certainly has a mind of it's own.
As Jeff mentioned be patient, it'll test it for sure.

[fischkopp]

The lace leaf plant prefers cooler water below 25deg Celsius and clean water (no debris can settle on the leafs). Keeping the light on medium levels will avoid algae growing on the leafs, which is something this plant doesn't tolerate well.

[Fishnut]

Ok, I'm moving it to my cold water tank!  I found a website that also confirmed that the cooler temperatures is preferred, so hopefully there's enough lights in the tank it's going to!  I think there is.  I'll get rid of A LOT of duckweed cover just in case though.

I don't want a itty bitty plant.  I want it to grow to is full and natural glory with the 12"+ leaves!   The cool water tank it's going into is a 72 gallon bowfront, so it'll have lots of room to spread!

[Fishnut]

It got planted in the cool water tank yesterday. I left the top of the bulb exposed as well...the website I read also suggested thatmight help in preventing the bulb from rotting.

I pinched off the flower stem when I re-planted it though. Good or bad idea?

[Fishnut]

The plant must be happy because there's a new leaf growing!   Hopefully it continues to grow.  The challenge is to keep the deckweed under control so the lace leaf plant isn't shadowed by it. 

I hate duck weed but I'm trying to keep enough of it alive until the pond is built because I need to put it out in the pond.