banana plant

zeal

hey does any one have these they look pretty cool for plants and was woundering how they are and of there a good choice for a tank.

Byron

There was some info in a thread a while back, here is my response copied over:

I have no direct experience with this particular plant [I think I did have one back in the 1980's but I can't remember much about it other than it didn't last long] but here are some suggestions that may help you.

The "bananas" are in fact roots where nutrients are stored, and these must be above the substrate according to some authors or buried no more than 1/3 in the substrate. The plant produces normal roots that will bury themselves into the substrate. Some authors comment that this plant requires very bright light and does better in outdoor ponds (in warmer climates like Florida where it grows wild). In bright light, stems with leaves at the surface develop.

Karen Randall, a recognized authority on aquatic plants, once mentioned that she never had this plant live very long. According to Peter Hiscock, the plant is known to have a limited lifespan in aquaria. One report mentioned a year, but the plant will produce "youngsters" if the leaves grow to the surface, so new plants can be maintained when the parent dies.

Byron.

mrdemin

I bought one a couple of weeks ago. It had three leafs, one died off within a few days. One new one grew withing a few days to its full size (I was amazed how quickly. I guess I lost another one somewhere along the road because I now only have 2 leafs sticking out.

jmlampert23

that is a wicked cool plant where did you buy it?

mrdemin

Wow, the surface of the water? That means mine didn't grow to full size hahah. I don't see how this little thing will grow to the surface of my 29g, I have a feeling after these last 2 leaves I will end up tossing it.

I got it at a LFS, they had a few, I got one to just try it out, it is really cool adds a sorta smile to my face when I look at it.

Whethere it is a good choice for a tank I couldn't say, I bet its too small to have any major positive effects, for me it was just a looker.

Byron

With sufficient light it will develop floating leaves, mine did years ago. They are short-lived though.

Blaxicanlatino

i have this plant. the leaves grow quickly and even to the surface of th water! the leaves grow big too! i hear they have a short life expectancy. The "bananas" of the plant are dying off though and ive had this plant for about a year. The leaves are still growing about every 3rd day