submersed vs emersed - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

AndiH · 11-03-2009, 01:08 PM

Hi all, I've been trying to find a simple explanation for the differences between plants grown submersed vs plants grown emersed and either I'm dense or what I've seen is wrong. Could someone give me an easy explanation and if I treat them differently?

OrangeCones · 11-03-2009, 02:52 PM

The leaves of a plant grown emersed and submersed are very different. The leaves underwater are much thinner to allow it to absorb nutrients from the water column. If the same plant is grown emersed, the leaves are much stiffer and often shaped much differently, to be able to survive in the air.

When you take a plant that was grown emersed, the 'in the air' leaves will die. If the plant was healthy enough, there will be enough energy in the root system to sprout 'underwater' leaves, and the plant itself will survive. Emersed growth is faster than underwater growth, which is why nurseries grow them emersed: less time to market.

When I get a plant that has been grown emersed, I cut all the existing leaves off, and plant just the roots. I've not had a lot of emersed plants, but that method has never harmed the plant, and they 'recover' quicker than letting the emersed leaves rot in the tank (which fouls the water).

I now only get new plants from fellow hobbyists, coming from their tanks, so the plants transplant with no problems

AndiH · 11-05-2009, 07:46 AM

Well the guy at the lfs had no idea which they were so I just put them in the tanks. I guess I'll see what happens lol

epond83 · 11-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Were they fully under water when you got them or were they exposed to the air?

11-03-2009, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
AndiH Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 60	submersed vs emersed Hi all, I've been trying to find a simple explanation for the differences between plants grown submersed vs plants grown emersed and either I'm dense or what I've seen is wrong. Could someone give me an easy explanation and if I treat them differently? __________________ 14g, 1 betta, 4 cory (1 panda, 1 skunk), Colisa lalia (1 flame and 1 blue?) 5g, 1 betta

11-03-2009, 02:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
OrangeCones Medium Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 403	The leaves of a plant grown emersed and submersed are very different. The leaves underwater are much thinner to allow it to absorb nutrients from the water column. If the same plant is grown emersed, the leaves are much stiffer and often shaped much differently, to be able to survive in the air. When you take a plant that was grown emersed, the 'in the air' leaves will die. If the plant was healthy enough, there will be enough energy in the root system to sprout 'underwater' leaves, and the plant itself will survive. Emersed growth is faster than underwater growth, which is why nurseries grow them emersed: less time to market. When I get a plant that has been grown emersed, I cut all the existing leaves off, and plant just the roots. I've not had a lot of emersed plants, but that method has never harmed the plant, and they 'recover' quicker than letting the emersed leaves rot in the tank (which fouls the water). I now only get new plants from fellow hobbyists, coming from their tanks, so the plants transplant with no problems __________________ ~It is easy to dodge our responsibilities. But we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. ~

11-05-2009, 07:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
AndiH Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 60	Well the guy at the lfs had no idea which they were so I just put them in the tanks. I guess I'll see what happens lol __________________ 14g, 1 betta, 4 cory (1 panda, 1 skunk), Colisa lalia (1 flame and 1 blue?) 5g, 1 betta

11-05-2009, 11:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
epond83 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 424	Were they fully under water when you got them or were they exposed to the air?