Bonsai - Growing Mangroves

The best method for growing Rhizophora Mangle, or Red Mangroves, is to put them in a water-holding container with fresh water and potting soil on the bottom. Fertilize often with any fertilizer (organic or chemical). Mangroves can also grow in saltwater because of their salt tolerance, but they will grow slower. Growing in saltwater is a method used with mangroves which might develops prop-roots. However, freshwater mangroves may still grow prop roots to help with oxygenation nd stability.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Bonsai
• Mangroves
• Red
• Mangrove
• Rhizophora
• Magle
• how
• to
• grow
• saltwater
• freshwater
• aquarium
• Tank
• How-to
• Green
• Garden
• tree
• wolfmeditation

[unconstslave]

@wolfmeditation Putting much thought into this, I've come up with an interesting idea. I want the mangrove to pull nitrates/nitrites from my reef tank. Plus I want the mangrove to grow larger and healthier then I've seen here in Colorado on other reef tanks. So the secondary "fresh" side needs to be able to dry out somewhat every so often so it pulls from the salt tank too. To have a beta I'll need a clear "drop tube" for it to live in when dried out (like a real beta might see)

[wolfmeditation]

@unconstslave Yes, of course mangroves can't use saltwater, they have to extract the fresh water from it, leaving salt crystals behind. So far I have seen that the mangroves in the jars with sand,soil,and brackish water are growing the best. The ones in pure freshwater and likewise the ones in pure saltwater grow a little slower. I believe I get better results keeping them in brackish water, and then doing a water change into freshwater, then back to brackish the subsequent water change.

[unconstslave]

@unconstslave Continuing.... You say in one video that the mangrove is more likely to drop the prop roots when planted in salt water. My theory to that is the plant prefers the fresh water, so it hunts it out with the prop roots farther inland. Still leaving the salt water for tough times. So for growing a mangrove roughly the size of my Jade at a three foot wide bush. Maybe the salt water AND fresh from time to time might work well. Maybe keep a beta in the fresh side in case salt seeps through

[unconstslave]

I'm thinking of having the mangrove growing from the miracle "mud" refugium with a sand covering (for looks). I don't think miracle mud does much BTW, never changed much over the years I used it, it's out of the system over a month now, but could be reused for this. I'm thinking of planting in the salt refugium until the "Prop roots" drop. One or more of THOSE will go into a large pot similar to what you show here. Giving the Mangrove both fresh water and salt water from opposing root "sides".

[wolfmeditation]

@unconstslave When you say "in a few months...into sandy potting soil pots" do you mean your planning to keep the mangroves inside pots, and then kep the pots submerged in the aqurium?

[wolfmeditation]

@unconstslave again, soil doesn't provide nutrients, it only holds nutrients. So in an aquarium with a steady moderate amount of decomposing matter and extra nutrients the mangroves may do well with no soil or fertilizer. I don't believe that its exactly possible to put plant fertilizer in a saltwater aquarium with other organisms in it. The ones in my saltwater are doing ok, but the ones in soil seem to do a bit better.

[wolfmeditation]

@unconstslave Not sure about soil in a saltwater aquarium other than the "miracle mud", i've never thought about it before. I might do an update on the mangroves. I have had great success keeping a mandarin dragonet and feeding it frozen foods, so I'm doing a video on that soon.

[wolfmeditation]

@unconstslave If mangroves are in an aquarium, they may not need to have soil b/c of fish waste, uneaten food, etc. But maybe you can add mud to the bottom and put sand over that. I heard some aquarists do it with something called "miracle mud". I try to keep some roots above the sand. I haven't seen it make much of a difference, but in nature they grow some roots in and above the water. Again, I don't think it matters to much.

[unconstslave]

@unconstslave I'm told they reduce nitrate and nitrite, in the aquarium quite effectively. Like I said though, I've never seen it. Which is why I'm thinking on the multi-soil level. Would you have any advise on that? I'd also be curious to see your best Mangrove. As all I seem to find are video and pics young ones. Thanks a lot!

[unconstslave]

@unconstslave I'm thinking about AFTER my protein skimmer, but before my return pump. I add a 5-10 gallon tank full of sand for the Mangrove. This would sit outside the tank stand on the floor. All 80 gallons of water would flow through this tank five times an hour before being returned to the main reef tank. Then in a few months when the mangrove starts sending down roots. I'd like to aim those into sandy potting soil pots. Thus giving the Mangrove the fresh, high nutrition soil as well.