Tiger nymphaea is a fairly common and well-studied plant by aquarists. Its decorative properties are best attributed to its underwater leaves, which are mottled in color. Although it can also form leaves floating on the surface of the water.
Latin name: Nymphaea lotus
Tiger Nymphaea Description
It is also called mottled nymphaea, lily-of-the-valley, lotus nymphaea. The plant is relatively large. Its leaves can reach sixty centimeters in length. So it can be recommended for large aquariums with a volume of two hundred liters and more.
Blooms more often in early spring. The color rises above the water. The flower consists of lanceolate white petals and lemon-yellow stamens. It blooms at night and closes at first light.
Flowering lasts for about three days. After that, the flower is submerged under water. If there was pollination by natural pollinators or you have conducted it artificially – a fruit is formed, which develops for about forty days. After which it bursts, sowing about a thousand small seeds Each one is about 1.5 millimeters long and about 1 millimeter wide. The seeds do not germinate all at once. Part of them can lie “canned” for up to a year and a half.
Propagation
Seed formation is not the only way in which the tiger nymphaea can be propagated. The easiest way to propagate is by rooting small clumps, which are abundant around a strong, well-developed plant.
In addition, one to one and a half centimeters in diameter nodules are formed on the roots of nymphaea. Each of these nodules can also give rise to a new full-grown plant.
The viability of nymphaea, its unpretentiousness allows you to recommend it to novice aquarists. The only requirement that may cause difficulties is an aquarium with a capacity of two hundred liters or more.
Keeping conditions for Tiger nymphaea
The rest of the conditions are relatively uncritical. It will suit the parameters of the environment suitable for most of the inhabitants of our aquariums. Temperature 22 – 26 degrees Celsius. The active reaction of the medium – neutral. The soil is almost any, well-proven itself when used in the aquarium. It can be a fine fraction of gravel, fine calaca, coarse river sand. Before planting in the hole intended for nymphaea it is desirable to bring fertilizer – a ball of fireclay with a diameter of about 1 centimeter.
Sometimes the nymphaea stops growing. No one knows exactly why this happens. However, many aquarists note the resumption of growth after a small stress – a slight fluctuation in pH, temperature or water hardness.
Overwater leaves What to do?
After flowering and fruit ripening, nymphaea tends to form emergent leaves. Their leaf plates do not rise above the water, but float on its surface. Sometimes these leaves can cover the entire surface of the water. This worsens the oxygenation of the water, especially if there is no additional aeration. In addition, these leaves shade the space below them to such an extent that even some shade-tolerant plants begin to suffer from lack of light.
In such cases, nymphaea leaves that are floating on the surface of the water can simply be carefully cut with scissors. It is better to cut the leaf petiole at the root. If the plant is weak, it is better to cut not all the leaves at once, but two-thirds. Usually after such a “surgical” intervention nymphaea again forms a rosette of underwater leaves, which do not shade anyone and in addition have a greater decorative value.
The tiger nymphaea is such an interesting plant. If the size of your aquarium allows – be sure to get acquainted with this unpretentious plant.
