Cryptocoryne Flamingo

[FatPleco]

If you get a crypt flamingo from a low light tank with many of its leaves greenish brown, can it be 'revived' and become pink in a high light tank?

In general, what's your experience with this plant?

 

[Art]

Yes. I’ve done just this.

Like any crypt, the first step is to get it to settle into its new environment. I didn’t slowly transition it, I placed it front and center with plenty of light. However, it also got plenty of CO2 and nutrients that it wasn’t previously getting.

New leaves had the beautiful, pink leaves and quite large. I ended up giving it to Marcos at Chi Chi’s Aquatic Dreams who is a neighbor when I moved.

With a healthy environment and patience, it will become quite beautiful for you.

 

[FatPleco]

Thank you Art !

I read somewhere on FB that Seachem root tabs are great for this plant, considering they have a lot of calcium and this crypt likes a higher GH. Any feedback on this ?

 

[Pepere]

My experience is that the plant can just sit there for months and months not seeming to do much of anything…. And then just take off and gain height and shoot out new plantlets..

I have transferred them for co2 enriched to non eriched and the other way.. they adapt well both ways…
They do indeed convert back in an enriched environment….with time….

 

[Art]

Thank you Art !

I read somewhere on FB that Seachem root tabs are great for this plant, considering they have a lot of calcium and this crypt likes a higher GH. Any feedback on this ?

I don't know about this. I think stability is more important. The plant will adapt.

 

[ElleDee]

Thank you Art !

I read somewhere on FB that Seachem root tabs are great for this plant, considering they have a lot of calcium and this crypt likes a higher GH. Any feedback on this ?

I think you need to consider the context of your tank rather than accept the blanket recommendation. I can see the reasoning that 'Flamingo' likes calcium, and Seachem root tabs have calcium, therefore Seachem root tabs are good for 'Flamingo', but if you already have enough calcium there's nothing to be gained by added more.

2hr Aquarist recommends growing 'Flamingo' at 4 or 5 dGH and up, which is not particularly high. If you are keeping shrimp in your tank you are probably already there, and many people get enough minerals out of the tap. I don't think that root tabs are the most effective way of adding calcium, and definitely not the cheapest. You could maybe make an argument for root feeding Ca it if you are keeping your TDS super low for some reason, but I would think that root tabs would be too unpredictable for that kind of set up. Like @Art says, consistency is probably more important.