17 replies to this topic

[Cicolid]

Has anyone had any experience growing the Water Onion Plant, Crinum thaianum.

http://www.aquabotan...ion_p/plg03.htm

I am going to try one in my planted tank & also one in the Malawi tank.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Col

[Graeme]

Hi Col

I have one growing in my planted tank.

Some of its leaves are close to 1m long.

Where did you source yours from as I would love a couple more.

Mine is growing in eco complete, under a 150 watt halide ,has CO2 injection and I dose EI method.
Hope those details help

Graeme

[Cicolid]

Hi Graeme,

I only have 8 bulbs which I have had in a hanging basket for years, but have only recently realised what species they are . Sorry, the spares have already been spoken for, in fact if I had 100 I could find homes for them all.

I would like to try a couple in my Malawi & Tanganyikan tanks which have 1 to2mm "Crushed Coral" as a substrate but not sure on how they will go.

Different websites state that they will grow under "Low to High" lights in most substrates which doesn't really tell you a heap.

If you have any info' on growing them I would really appreciate it if you could let me know.

Cheers
Col

[golden_dase]

** Edited **

Not "helpful" enough for Col!

[Cicolid]

Yes, but it still doesn't answer my 2 main questions regarding light & substrate requirements.

BTW. I did a heap of research on this species before I posted.

Col

[golden_dase]

How about this:

Scientific name: Crinum thaianum

Common name: Onion plant

Light requirements: Medium

Difficulty:Medium

Aquarium niche:Background

Care: Crinum thaianum needs a nutrient rich substrate and moderate lighting, and will grow quick if its requirements are met. Propagation rare in the aquarium.


Does that answer your 2 questions?

[dazzabozza]

I think Col is looking for first hand experience.

[golden_dase]

Oops... my bad..

I thought i'd try to help since Col didnt get much responses to this thread..

[Graeme]

Hi Col

the only extra piece of info I can give is that I have put a lump of "Dino Dung " under it.
http://www.aquagreen...osaur_Dung.html

This will give the roots added nutrients.
I could be wrong but I think aquatix has it...... If not just do what I do and order from Aquagreen direct.

I havent noticed mine growing any daughter bulbs (YET )

Good luck with yours
here are a couple of aussie other posts that you may find some info from.
http://aquariumlife....Crinum thaianum
http://aquariumlife....Crinum thaianum
http://aquariumlife....Crinum thaianum


Graeme

[sajica]

I must say I never know Crinum thaianum can grow out of water, but now that I read you had yours in a hanging basket reminds me of a plant I have that iirc looks like C. thaianum. Also growing in a hanging basket. I might have to suss out where that is tomorrow and have a play with it....

[Cicolid]

G'day Graeme,

Many thanks for those links, they were just what I was looking for.

I did a "search" on that site, but I couldn't have used the correct words.

After reading the links I will try one in the pond. The flowers are just fantastic.

The 8 bulbs I have were originally in a hanging basket, I planted them in full shade 2 years ago & the biggest bulb has a couple of 10mm bubs already.

Thanks again, will let you know how I go with them later.

Thanks again

Col

[keleherr]

iv fond mine does well with the dino dung and a slightly acidic environment. where did you get them from? my understanding was that they are few and far between. besides yours i only know of 3 in WA

[Cicolid]

Hi James,

I can't remember where I got them from. I have had them for several years now.

It wasn't until I was looking for another plant that I came across some info' on it remembered that I had some.
I originally bought 2 bulbs & they have multiplied over the years & now I have 8 varying from 5cm down to 3cm diameter, plus the largest one has 2 bulblets on it.
Since I planted them in a shade garden on a South facing wall 2 years ago they have been largely neglected, so I assume with an enriched soils & better care they will reproduce more.


Col

[keleherr]

iv had mine for a while and its maxed out at 3cm. anyway ur a lucky guy ur sitting on about 1K. got any pics?

[Cicolid]

1k, you must be joking, they sell in USA for $4 & a bit more in UK.

Please tell me my ID is incorrect as I don't know if I want to risk losing them by trying them in the Tanganyikan tank.

Photo's as requested, including close-ups of flower bud & bulbets.

Col

 Onion_plant_1.jpg   116.53KB   41 downloads  Onion_plant_2.jpg   52.76KB   34 downloads
 Onion_plant_bulbils.jpg   39.16KB   33 downloads  Onion_plant_flower.jpg   32.39KB   34 downloads

[keleherr]

iv herd of Crinum thaianum going around the $200 mark here. in oz due to strict importation laws alot of non prolific plants are uncommon giving them a high price tag.

heres some pics of mine




once it flowers it will be easier to identify but im guessing what you have is a native from the Amaryllidaceae family

[Leevers]

Sorry for the late reply Col. Prior to selling my planted tank setup, i had one of these(could of been another family, but as i do not know exactly what i had other than visable similarities to yours, i cannot confirm species) growing rather rapidly under HO-T5 with c02 injection. I used fine river sand as a substrate and with everything growing i used no form of fertilisation Many will dismiss my method of fertilisation, but have had incredible success with many species of plants. I don't gravel vac planted tanks, and the fish poo breaks down within the sand providing more than substantial fertilisation. It's just a method i use, and others obviously use their own.
my 2 cents and a 1/4

[Cicolid]

Well, it looks as if I am wrong again.

I am pretty sure the plant I have is not Crinum Thaianum.

I placed all 8 bulbs in a bucket filled with gravel & water. The roots on all of them have rotted off.
I have now cut back all the leaves and planted them in a pot of soil & now waiting to see what happens.

Although disappointing, it will be interesting to see if they flower so I can ID them properly.

Apologies to those who wanted some bulbs.

Col