Help Nymphaea sp Peru Puerto Maldonado

[SkaleyAquatics]

Alright, I think its finally time to ask for help with this plant. Nymphaea sp Peru Puerto Maldonado has never grown well for me. I have tried it in both inert substrate and aquasoil but it has never gotten going. It produces tiny leaves under 1"/2.5cm then begins to melt. Ive tried different levels of light intensity. The only thing I can think of at this point is it is related to temperature and am curious what other are having success at? I have not tried it above 73F/23c, and am beginning to wonder if this has been my downfall. This is the only nymphaea ive tried and not succeeded with and being one of/if not my favorite genus, id like to grow this one as well.

 

[Kwyet]

I can’t keep it alive either. Following with interest!

 

[Koan]

Paging @Bolbi, to the white courtesy telephone please

Journal Post in thread '"Solar Fields" - 270L Aquascape'

Mar 19, 2025

Day 83​

A school of Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi 'Smoke' has been introduced. Glossostigma elatinoides has been drastically trimmed, just a few millimeters above the substrate.

Glossostigma is very resilient to trimming. Frequent trimming encourages the development of lateral shoots...

• Bolbi

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[Bolbi]

A new plant for me, I don’t have much experience with it. I had the same melting issue. I couldn’t really pinpoint the exact cause. The temperature is more or less constant, around 24 °C. In the same tank I also keep N. gardneriana 'Santarem'. I’d say both are quite sensitive to replanting or moving to another aquarium. Fortunately, after melting they recovered, and now they’re growing really well.

 

[Koan]

Fortunately, after melting they recovered, and now they’re growing really well

That's great! Can you share what GH, KH, CO2 levels / duration and fertilization scheme you have been using?

Sounds like it likes what you're serving

 

[Bolbi]

KH7, GH9, CO2 ~ 30ppm (DIY reactor, turning on 2 hours before lights and turns off 1 hour before lights turn off), Photoperiod 8 and a half hours (with dawn and dusk).
Fertilization daily, adding:
NO3: 1,67 mg/L
PO4: 0,33 mg/L
K: 3,67 mg/L
Mg: 0,13 mg/L
Fe: 0,067 mg/L + trace

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

A new plant for me, I don’t have much experience with it. I had the same melting issue. I couldn’t really pinpoint the exact cause. The temperature is more or less constant, around 24 °C. In the same tank I also keep N. gardneriana 'Santarem'. I’d say both are quite sensitive to replanting or moving to another aquarium. Fortunately, after melting they recovered, and now they’re growing really well.

Interesting, ive tried it in my tank with N. gardneriana 'Santerem' and it did not do well. I currently have it in a tank with aqua soil and 2 different heads have developed I will give it some more time. Luckily the bulb has been very active for me.

I may have to reach out to Joe about this one and see what he says. But I am currently at a wait and see.

 

[anewbie]

I have one grow quite well in my discus aquarium - low-tech inert substrate (hth pool filter sand); ec is 19 ph 4.7 temp is 83ish.

It initially died down and then a month later sent out a huge number of new leaves and a few plantets. The tank is 24 inch high and most of the leaves are now reaching the surface and floating there. The big negative is no flower (yet?). I've only had it for a year.

I did put a few root tabs around the bulb.

 

[Burr740]

Ive definitely noticed its a touchy plant but it does pretty good in my tanks. I have it in both inert sand and old aquasoil. KH o-0 in the soil tanks and 5-6 in the sand (blasting sand to be specific)

All tanks get my Burr Aqua ferts at the suggested high energy dose, which is pretty rich

Main thing I notice is it can look a lot of different ways, but dont ask me what makes it do what lol

Here's is a current batch in 4+ yr old landen soil. The surface leaves are not the trademark nice bright red, but those regular leavers are looking pretty freakin sweet imo (hope this vid embeds..)

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Ive definitely noticed its a touchy plant but it does pretty good in my tanks. I have it in both inert sand and old aquasoil. KH o-0 in the soil tanks and 5-6 in the sand (blasting sand to be specific)

Real quick to confirm: Your BDBS tank(s) have a KH of 5-6? Is this because you intentionally add KH with RO water?

 

[Burr740]

Real quick to confirm: Your BDBS tank(s) have a KH of 5-6? Is this because you intentionally add KH with RO water?

Oh no, I would never add KH. Its because thats what the tap is. I use straight tap water in all my tanks. Its pretty decent water, tds 95 out of the faucet, just a little hard thats all

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

The surface leaves are not the trademark nice bright red, but those regular leavers are looking pretty freakin sweet imo

I do really enjoy the pattern of the leaves like this. Almost more so then the trademark red.

All tanks get my Burr Aqua ferts at the suggested high energy dose, which is pretty rich

I'm unsure of what your macros are at but I am still running all my tanks at NPK - 30:10:40

How do you find it in terms of growth speed? Specifically when first producing a new plantlet? I really do feel like temperature plays a huge roll in this plants stability. It appears to me that below 75F/24C is the lowest it tolerates. Currently the tank I have it in is exactly that and it has leaves that are slowly coming along. Where below that number it struggled to keep a single leaf. I will be curious on how this plant and all my plants react when they go in the fishroom as I plan to keep it at a minimum of 77F/25C, possibly warmer depending on the species I am working with(Though this may just mean specific tanks get heaters).

 

[anewbie]

Ive definitely noticed its a touchy plant but it does pretty good in my tanks. I have it in both inert sand and old aquasoil. KH o-0 in the soil tanks and 5-6 in the sand (blasting sand to be specific)

All tanks get my Burr Aqua ferts at the suggested high energy dose, which is pretty rich

Main thing I notice is it can look a lot of different ways, but dont ask me what makes it do what lol

Here's is a current batch in 4+ yr old landen soil. The surface leaves are not the trademark nice bright red, but those regular leavers are looking pretty freakin sweet imo (hope this vid embeds..)

I will say your plant looks different than mine in that the leaes i have are mostly green with red splotches.

I took another look and i think the pattern is similar but again more green - probably your lights are more intense - i'll take pictures in a day or so.

I have a par of 30 or so at the bottom of the aquarium - not sure of the intensity at the top - the lights are set to something like 20 to 25%.

 

[anewbie]

Pictures of some of the leaves:


Not nearly as intense as @Burr740

After a while the inhabitants came over and indicated it was time to move on:

 

[FatPleco]

I've kept this plant for a while and saw it thrive and attempt to flower twice in a typical high energy set up. It expanded aggressively until recently, growth coming almost to a halt. The change occured as water temperatures dropped from 30C to around 24C.

 

[FatPleco]

The weather is getting hotter and sure enough, this quasi-dormant plant is shooting up new red leaves and sending stolons around.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I have yet to see a red leaf that this plant is known for. Tank sits right about 25°C. It does grow fine but this might be a plant for a discus tank.

 

[Dennis Wong]

It grows easily locally. Maybe it likes the soft water?
I can leave it neglected in corners of my collection tank with low light etc and it still grows over time. It propagates quite quickly.
In aquasoil tank - I have to say I've never seen it melt, it grow as easily as any other common nymphaea.

Another hobbyist's tank - using APT Feast, APT Ei: