Crinum aquatica
The Crinum aquatica natans is naturally cultivated in the water bodies of West Africa. It is not yet precisely known to aquarists whether it is a crossbreed or a subspecies of Crinum natans.
Crinum aquatica belongs to the perennials. It has a bulbous bulb with a well-developed root system. The leaves are curled, cellless and arranged in a rosette. The leaves are narrow and up to 45 cm long. In summer the aquatic crinum may flower with large, striped flowers (up to 5). The closest species to Aquatic Crinum is Crinum thaianum, from which it differs in its smaller size and more curled leaves.
Depending on the aquarium size, plant Crinum aquatica bushes along the side walls if the aquarium is large and high enough, or in the background if the aquarium is small. The growth rate of the bush is low.
Water parameters: temperature 20-28° C, hardness dH 3-12°, acidity pH 5,3-8,0. Requires good filtration and weekly replacement of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh.
Planting the Crinum aquatica in sand or fine gravel is recommended. The soil around the planting area of the tuber should be stirred periodically to prevent siltation. The plant responds well to fertilisation.
The light intensity should be approx. 0.3 W/l. The leaves of the Crinum aquatica should not be allowed to become overgrown with algae, which can lead to death. Also, after flowering, the bush begins its dormancy period, which is characterised by the shedding of almost all of its leaves. Once this has occurred, remove the bulb from the water and keep it in a cool, humid place with an ambient temperature of approximately 14-17°C. If the dormancy period is ignored, the plant will begin to develop again but it is unlikely to flower again. The shrub can only bloom after the dormancy period.
Reproduction
Crinum aquatica is propagated vegetatively - by daughter bulbs that eventually emerge from the mother tuber. Initially, the buds of future plants are formed around the bulb of the adult bush and are protected by the peculiar scales of the mother bush. As it develops, the bud elongates and emerges from the axil of the old leaf, about 8 cm above where it originated. If the scales are damaged when exposed, the bud will stop developing and die off. As the bud develops, the scales are pulled apart, exposing the lower part of the bud. The whole process is very lengthy and takes several months. The daughter bulb is then moved away from the mother bulb and rooted into the substrate. At this time, it can be taken up and transplanted to the desired location in the aquarium.
