This is the first time I am attempting to germinate V. amazonica seeds. I have germinated many V.cruziana and Longwood Hybrid before and they are easier. V.amazonica seems to be less forgiving.

Today about half the seeds are showing signs of germination. This is only day 5. I am keeping the water at 86F with partial water changes everyday.

The seeds are just sitting on an inch layer of river sand and beneath that is a heavy clay based soil.

 

Nice setup, Scott. I would watch the water pH on these. I know some guys add some blackwater tonic for these to mimic conditions in origin. The fact that germination is proceeding normally a good sign, but watch water quality as they start to grow out.

Good luck!

Keep us informed how you go. I tried with a lot of Victoria amazonica seed last season. Got a lot of germination and growth for a few weeks before they expired. One went a few months, but part of that was a slow decline.

We have a moth which lays eggs in aquatic plants, especially Pistia stratiotes. The catepillars chew off a piece of leaf and curl it around themselves. They float around in this and chew on anything they come in contact with. The curled leaf protects them from predatory fish. Some species of tadpole seem to really like floating leaves, notably Litoria rothi. So as well as the catepillars I was also fishing out tadpoles.

Those were some of the main problems with the Amazonica seedlings. But there must be other issues as well and no one seems to understand what those are. I've spoken with a number of people who've tried and they say it's a mystery and not to bother with them. But I'm persistent and determined. Hopefully I'll have more seeds soon. I tried to search the internet on the habitat they grow in but there's no information. If they're from "blackwater" systems then maybe that's the secret to successful growth. I have a blackwater swamp (non-perennial) on my place. I can produce blackwater, or during the wet season collect it. Do either of you know what the ideal pH is? My water is from a bore, 40 metres below ground. It comes up at 31C and has a 7.4 pH value.

2 hours ago, stone jaguar said:

Nice setup, Scott. I would watch the water pH on these. I know some guys add some blackwater tonic for these to mimic conditions in origin. The fact that germination is proceeding normally a good sign, but watch water quality as they start to grow out.

Good luck!

I might try using Indian Tropical Almond leaves.

3 hours ago, tropicbreeze said:

Keep us informed how you go. I tried with a lot of Victoria amazonica seed last season. Got a lot of germination and growth for a few weeks before they expired. One went a few months, but part of that was a slow decline.

We have a moth which lays eggs in aquatic plants, especially Pistia stratiotes. The catepillars chew off a piece of leaf and curl it around themselves. They float around in this and chew on anything they come in contact with. The curled leaf protects them from predatory fish. Some species of tadpole seem to really like floating leaves, notably Litoria rothi. So as well as the catepillars I was also fishing out tadpoles.

Those were some of the main problems with the Amazonica seedlings. But there must be other issues as well and no one seems to understand what those are. I've spoken with a number of people who've tried and they say it's a mystery and not to bother with them. But I'm persistent and determined. Hopefully I'll have more seeds soon. I tried to search the internet on the habitat they grow in but there's no information. If they're from "blackwater" systems then maybe that's the secret to successful growth. I have a blackwater swamp (non-perennial) on my place. I can produce blackwater, or during the wet season collect it. Do either of you know what the ideal pH is? My water is from a bore, 40 metres below ground. It comes up at 31C and has a 7.4 pH value.

Have you ever tried V.cruziana or the Longwood Victoria which is a x of amazonica and cruziana? Have you tried Dipel which is a bacterial insecticide ( Bacillus Thuringiensis) to get rid of the catepillars? It is harmless to fish.

 

 

Think 5.5. to 6.5 is a much better range for these, but not really my specialty. In an aquarium or small pond, this is easily and naturally achieved by hanging a piece of nylon stocking with some fresh sphagnum peat into it until you have acidified water enough. Obviously small amounts of any household acid will also achieve this goal...careful not to go too low for too long and make certain that your pH meter is calibrated properly.

Scott, Victoria amazonica seems to be the only seed we can get here so I haven''t tried any of the others. I know about Dipel but haven't used it. However, the caterpillars were really my fault. I shifted a lot of Pistia from a biofilter in another pond before I realised the moths had found it and were going crazy in it. So I moved the caterpillars across inadvertantly. I know better this time and won't use Pistia for a biofilter anymore.

SJ, I usually calibrate my pH meter before I use it and it's pretty accurate so I should be able to get the pH range you think is best. I'll use leaves (old) from the trees in my swamp, predominantly Melaleuca viridiflora. I can start that straightaway and have the set up ready for when I get the seeds.

Thanks to you both for your help.

Germination process continues , but now the with the tinted water from the Tropical Almond leaf tea I added. I have not checked the Ph yet.

 

Thank you for sharing your germination experiences with these.

Do you have any news?

Are you running Co2?