nymphaea lotus zenkeri flowering

[darius3]

Hello,
I have a nymphaea lotus zenkeri for 7 months and I just noticed that it is developing a flower. I measured it and it’s growing pretty fast, about 2cm per day.
I estimate that in 7 days it will reach the surface.
I have an open top tank with lights (3x39W) at 15 cm distance from the water surface.
Do you have any advice for helping the future flower?
Thanks!
Darius

 

[Newman]

awesome! I havent seen any flowers from my red water lilies yet, even though I've had them for a long time and they have been through a few massive leaf blooms.

good luck with yours, I hope it looks amazing. no particular care needs to be done to it

 

[riseabovethesun]

Beautiful! Having plants flower is so absolutely exciting!

I don't have any experience with those flowering, but with one of my plants I just let it do its thing and it ends up very nicely

 

[darius3]

I noticed that the bulb is releasing an oxygen bubble every couple of seconds.
Do you know the reason behind this?
I uploaded a small movie and an updated photo.

 

[Dylandrewsdad]

I am so jealous........

 

[Newman]

the wonderful process of photosynthesis is the answer to your question.

 

[darius3]

the bulb reached the water surface today.
check the latest photo!

 

[Newman]

it looks like its going to be a white flower. be sure to take a good pic for us!

 

[darius3]

new photos!
Picasa Web Albums - darius - Aquarium
Picasa Web Albums - darius - Aquarium

 

[Newman]

whats that smell like?
lolz, water lilies sure can be a good addition to a tank.

 

[darius3]

It’s opening time!

 

[riseabovethesun]

Absolutely beautiful!!

 

[OrangeCones]

Nice!!!*SUPERSMIL

 

[Newman]

very nice!
you inspired me to include yet another planted tank idea for my future - a large rimless tank housing only water lilies and lotus!

 

[darius3]

the flower was closed during the day.
i guess it blooms only at night.
here's the latest photo.

 

[darius3]

whats that smell like?
lolz, water lilies sure can be a good addition to a tank.

here's the photo i took this morning.

The smell is like lily and hyacinth. I really can't tell much about it.
I have a question regarding the lights. Now as the flower is much taller it doesn't get much light.
I have a hang on lamp at about 10cm from the tank, I was thinking to suspend the lamp at 15-20cm so the flower will get more light. What do you think?

 

[darius3]

I moved the lamp 10 cm higher and put a maternity near the flower so it can stay upright. the flower looks dry to me

 

[Newman]

looks like it doesnt have much left. time that is. if it opens at night, then thats the time I'd be looking at it. with the lights off, otherwise it will want to close then. how do you look at it with no lights? you keep the room dark for a few hours and then turn on the light and see if its open. if not then turn the light off and go do something. it should open all the way during the night if you say so.

 

[darius3]

i didn't see it opened last night. will check again tonight.