Soap is the best way to go it smothers them but make sure to coat all of them. Mild soap is way cheaper and in my opinion way better than insecticidal soaps but both will work well
my new MONSTERS to be: Black Mangroves...
- Thread starter MaddMaxx
- Start date
For future reference tho with aphids you will actually be able to see the little bugs which can be all different colors, black and orange aphids are common in plants close to water......dont mean to sound plant geekish but worked in nurseries since i was 14
Thanks Krich, the mesh just keeps the gravel from falling through the holes in the back of the planter...
I really need to update the progress AND do something about the scale insects
So I'm finally getting around to an update, mostly because there hasn't been much to update until now. For about 4-5 months there wasn't really any new growth. 
But after I returned from my honeymoon, I found a lot of new deaths and some new growth too...
Tank shot, kinda looking scraggley, needing some cleaning:
Most of my Bacopa died off while I was gone, not sure why??
Also, lost another Mangrove, I think it never really had a strong root system:
But my other 3 mangroves are still doing well, and finally put out some new growth:
Even the big guy, which hasn't shown much life for even longer than the others:
And I did a fairly big cut back of the Umbrella Sedge and some cleaning of the Leather Ferns (FTS):
I'll try and get some measurement-shots later this week to get some good scientific comparison going on...
But after I returned from my honeymoon, I found a lot of new deaths and some new growth too...
Tank shot, kinda looking scraggley, needing some cleaning:
Most of my Bacopa died off while I was gone, not sure why??
Also, lost another Mangrove, I think it never really had a strong root system:
But my other 3 mangroves are still doing well, and finally put out some new growth:
Even the big guy, which hasn't shown much life for even longer than the others:
And I did a fairly big cut back of the Umbrella Sedge and some cleaning of the Leather Ferns (FTS):
I'll try and get some measurement-shots later this week to get some good scientific comparison going on...
Great thread! I just looked through the whole thing and I think I will try ording some of those Cyperus Umbrella Sedge's from Hydrophyte later in the week! Hopefully he still has some!
Thanks man!
You should definitely order some, its a great easy growing plant and looks really cool IMO...
You should definitely order some, its a great easy growing plant and looks really cool IMO...
FINALLY got around to reading the thread, lol. I read a few bonsai books and several websites before I got my privet so a few questions for you, sir, on your mangroves:
1. Have you had to cut back the roots yet? Its my understanding that in order to keep a plant small, you cut back the roots, thereby restricting the growth of the plant. I am curious as to how often this is required in mangroves.
2. Do you plan to cut the leaves to make them smaller/keep them small? Another thing I read was that if you cut the leaves off at the base of the leaf, they will grow back half the original size and you can cut them down by halves til you get the desired size. Does this apply when you start as small as you did?
3. Do you think that the same set-up you have there will work for a saltwater tank (as far as the mangroves)? I've also got reef LEDs. Will these work for plants or will they be too strong, as they are designed to penetrate water? I don't want the little guys to burn up!!
1. Have you had to cut back the roots yet? Its my understanding that in order to keep a plant small, you cut back the roots, thereby restricting the growth of the plant. I am curious as to how often this is required in mangroves.
2. Do you plan to cut the leaves to make them smaller/keep them small? Another thing I read was that if you cut the leaves off at the base of the leaf, they will grow back half the original size and you can cut them down by halves til you get the desired size. Does this apply when you start as small as you did?
3. Do you think that the same set-up you have there will work for a saltwater tank (as far as the mangroves)? I've also got reef LEDs. Will these work for plants or will they be too strong, as they are designed to penetrate water? I don't want the little guys to burn up!!
Finally got around to responding to you (seems you've read a lot more than I have at this point):
1. No, I haven't cut the roots yet. Two reasons - one, I'm scared too. I've heard/seen the mangroves to be pretty sensitive and I want them to get really established first. - two, the "planters" the are growing in serve as a sort of root-binding anyway.
2. No, I don't plan on cutting the leaves. Two reasons - one, see above. - two, now that you mention it, since they've all gone through a few "pinchings" a lot of the leaves coming out are smaller anyway. bonus!
3. The planter setup will definitely work. As for mangroves, you'll want to get a different type, my Black Mangroves are freshwater. I'm not sure about the LED's, but my mangroves defly like a lot of light...
