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Potassium Deficiency?

4K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  Olympia 
#1 ·
My beautiful Cryptocoryne wendtii has suddenly started developing pinholes in the leaves, and I'm wondering if it could possibly be a potassium deficiency? I don't have any images to share, but the holes have only appeared on the older leaves thus far. They start as tiny pinholes, and then grow as the leaf melts and dies. . . The only creatures in-tank that could have anything to do with it are my Malaysian Trumpet or my Nertie snail - and this is very unlikely. I've never had trouble with them them on my plants, and I feed veggies on a regular basis - they aren't hungry!

I dose once a week with Seachem flourish - but it does not appear that potassium is an ingredient in this fert? I also have been using seachem's root tabs - especially for the health of my lovely crypt.

Any suggestions/advice on how to fix this - or what else it could possibly be? It's my favorite plant, and has been doing so well up until this week!
 
#3 · (Edited)
Awesome! If that's the case, then my problem is with lighting. My floating plants died off a while back, so I'm thinking the crypt is now getting too much light, where before it was perfect.

Must have missed Potassium on the label, double checked it - YUP! It's there! Thanks! I dose only once a week for now, but could bump it to twice. Everything in the tank is growing amazingly with only once, so I'll leave it for now. . . Ph is 7.4

Working on a new batch of floaters, which will hopefully solve ALL of my problems!
 
#4 ·
How new in the crypt?

These plants are known to 'melt', that's what it's called because it's kind of what it looks like :)

Pinning the exact reason is most of the time impossible. Change in water parameters, change in nutrients, change in light, roots disturbed, looking at it funny ... any and all can cause a crypt to melt.

They usually will spring right back though, even if all the leaves melt.
 
#5 ·
looking at it funny ... can cause a crypt to melt.
*giggle* That MUST be my problem!!! I have been looking at it funny an AWFUL lot lately . . . ;-)

I've read this about crypts, and didn't actually expect mine to do well at first. . . oddly enough this was the ONLY plant that had absolutley NO die-off when added to the tank, it just took off and has been growing very steadily since I got it - about 3 months or so ago. It MUST be the lighting. The only change has been that my floating plants died off.

Though I've read that these plants *CAN* do well with higher lighting, mine has always been in the shade, and that shade is now gone. . . so that is most likely the problem. Hopefully this next batch of floaters take, and all will once again be well in there.

I'm pretty sure that this crypt is my favorite plant. . . I hope it can hang in there! And thanks. . . even if all of the current leaves die, it's nice to know that there is yet hope!!! So far, I've only lost 3 leaves. But. . . to ME, it's DRAMATIC!!! *swoons*
 
#6 ·
Going from shade to direct light can cause crypt melt. Most species will grow in either shade or direct light, but not back and forth. It should rebound.

A potassium deficiency would most likley show in more than just one plant species, and in other faster-growing plants before the slower-growing crypts too. I have it, so I am familiar with this.:-(

Byron.
 
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#7 ·
My crypts had a few pin holes in them at one point. I did add some root tabs at one point and haven't gotten anymore.
Jee, I harass my crypts. I always mess up the sand and have to replant them, they get horrible light.. but they grow fast for me, unlike everything else I have. :D
 
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