Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 19:09:19 +1000 From: "Richard Jobson" <r.jobson@botany.uq.edu.au> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg759$foo@default> Subject: confused Utrics
Hi Anita,
I have the same problem with aquatic Utrics from Europe, they
seem to form turions and then begin growth, and in a week or two
they become turions again, this is in the Australian summer. Did
your plants form any turions? A weekend is not long but it happens
pretty quickly. I also had a large container full of local U. aurea that
flowered and grew like mad for a year then just died very quicky
(within a week). I think the water conditions reached some
threshold (from the constantly decaying plant) and that was that. Is
your lake water from a suitable Utric habitat, maybe high pH or
high nitrate levels have limited the growth?, so the plant sprung into
action and then hated the conditions. These plants are specialised
for fast apical growth (thanks Lubomir) and die very quickly. Also
algae turns the plants into muck like lightning.
Just on the algae problem, aquatic snails will do the job free of
charge ie. they won't eat the plants.
And back to the slug beer I wonder if a stronger, smelly beer like
Guinness (thats the thick, brown stuff) may work better?
Hope I have helped,
Rich.
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