Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
4 posters
:: Freshwater :: Plants :: Plant Profiles
Page 1 of 1
Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
My plant profile video on Bolbitis Heudelotii
guppyguy- Moderator
- Posts : 2165
Join date : 2014-01-24
Location : Wheatley, ON
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
Another great video article ! Enjoyed them all, and I have been a subscriber to your YouTube channel for a while now.
alexmtl- Veteran Member
- Posts : 3274
Join date : 2013-09-07
Location : Montreal Quebec
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
alexmtl wrote:Another great video article ! Enjoyed them all, and I have been a subscriber to your YouTube channel for a while now.
Thank you Alex, this is going to be a huge series. I have tons of plants profiles I am going to do in video format. And they will all also get posted here. Have you ever commented directly on my video's on YouTube. I am just wondering if I have talked or responded to you on there, and did not know who you were.
guppyguy- Moderator
- Posts : 2165
Join date : 2014-01-24
Location : Wheatley, ON
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
Thank you for sharing Guppyguy I may have to try it out in one of my tanks.
Fores41- Pleco Poster
- Posts : 829
Join date : 2013-09-17
Location : Williams Lake,BC
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
That was an excellent video clip on my favourite aquarium plant. I wish I had had access to info like that when I first started with it.
Please don't imagine me in a rocking chair with a dog at my feet when I tell this story. I got one rhizome about 3 inches long in 1992, when I first joined the local club and saw the plant in the auction. That rhizome was a 30 inch piece within a few years. I now have its descendants/extendants(?) in most of my tanks.
I got some more from Cameroon in 2004. It was really hard to acclimate, but I saved some (maybe 3 pieces out of 20). Wild, it looks a lot different from cultivated forms. It has very broad light green leaves. Within a year, it looked like my other Bolbitis.
It grew like mad when I was treating for cyanobacter with potassium nitrate ferts.
If you put it off the edge of a light source with a powerhead behind it, it will extend towards the light quickly and hit 22-23 inches quickly. It grows more slowly under a direct light. It likes to be ambitious.
When it stretches to a light, it keeps the leaves down low. It doesn't get all stalky like a lot of root plants.
It drops off plantlets without the rhizome being cut. Not many, not often, but every once in a while, it seems to get very busy.
And of great interest to me, you can buy a piece and still have it going 20+ years later. That is remarkable.
Watch the video - you want this plant!
Please don't imagine me in a rocking chair with a dog at my feet when I tell this story. I got one rhizome about 3 inches long in 1992, when I first joined the local club and saw the plant in the auction. That rhizome was a 30 inch piece within a few years. I now have its descendants/extendants(?) in most of my tanks.
I got some more from Cameroon in 2004. It was really hard to acclimate, but I saved some (maybe 3 pieces out of 20). Wild, it looks a lot different from cultivated forms. It has very broad light green leaves. Within a year, it looked like my other Bolbitis.
It grew like mad when I was treating for cyanobacter with potassium nitrate ferts.
If you put it off the edge of a light source with a powerhead behind it, it will extend towards the light quickly and hit 22-23 inches quickly. It grows more slowly under a direct light. It likes to be ambitious.
When it stretches to a light, it keeps the leaves down low. It doesn't get all stalky like a lot of root plants.
It drops off plantlets without the rhizome being cut. Not many, not often, but every once in a while, it seems to get very busy.
And of great interest to me, you can buy a piece and still have it going 20+ years later. That is remarkable.
Watch the video - you want this plant!
GaryE- Veteran Member
- Posts : 2505
Join date : 2013-09-07
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
guppyguy wrote:Have you ever commented directly on my video's on YouTube. I am just wondering if I have talked or responded to you on there, and did not know who you were.
No I just lurk and creep around.
alexmtl- Veteran Member
- Posts : 3274
Join date : 2013-09-07
Location : Montreal Quebec
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
Fores41 wrote:Thank you for sharing Guppyguy I may have to try it out in one of my tanks.
Your welcome. It has few needs and is pretty easy plant and quite unique in its looks too.
guppyguy- Moderator
- Posts : 2165
Join date : 2014-01-24
Location : Wheatley, ON
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
GaryE wrote:That was an excellent video clip on my favourite aquarium plant. I wish I had had access to info like that when I first started with it.
Please don't imagine me in a rocking chair with a dog at my feet when I tell this story. I got one rhizome about 3 inches long in 1992, when I first joined the local club and saw the plant in the auction. That rhizome was a 30 inch piece within a few years. I now have its descendants/extendants(?) in most of my tanks.
I got some more from Cameroon in 2004. It was really hard to acclimate, but I saved some (maybe 3 pieces out of 20). Wild, it looks a lot different from cultivated forms. It has very broad light green leaves. Within a year, it looked like my other Bolbitis.
It grew like mad when I was treating for cyanobacter with potassium nitrate ferts.
If you put it off the edge of a light source with a powerhead behind it, it will extend towards the light quickly and hit 22-23 inches quickly. It grows more slowly under a direct light. It likes to be ambitious.
When it stretches to a light, it keeps the leaves down low. It doesn't get all stalky like a lot of root plants.
It drops off plantlets without the rhizome being cut. Not many, not often, but every once in a while, it seems to get very busy.
And of great interest to me, you can buy a piece and still have it going 20+ years later. That is remarkable.
Watch the video - you want this plant!
Thank you Gary and glad you enjoyed the video. And that is incredible story you just told.. It just shows how tough and long lived this plant is. Don't worry I never imagined you in a rocking chair with a dog at your feet when as I read the story. But I did get a chuckle out of that. I have not had a plant for 20 years yet not even close actually, maybe five years with some of my java ferns. I believe the low light slower growing plants will have a considerably longer life span. This is a great plant I recommend to those who have not tried it.
guppyguy- Moderator
- Posts : 2165
Join date : 2014-01-24
Location : Wheatley, ON
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
alexmtl wrote:guppyguy wrote:Have you ever commented directly on my video's on YouTube. I am just wondering if I have talked or responded to you on there, and did not know who you were.
No I just lurk and creep around.
lol ok its all good. At least I know you checking out the videos.
guppyguy- Moderator
- Posts : 2165
Join date : 2014-01-24
Location : Wheatley, ON
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
These video profiles are excellent.
GaryE- Veteran Member
- Posts : 2505
Join date : 2013-09-07
Re: Bolbitis Heudelotii (African Water Fern)
GaryE wrote:These video profiles are excellent.
Thank you Gary and much more to come.
guppyguy- Moderator
- Posts : 2165
Join date : 2014-01-24
Location : Wheatley, ON

» Cloudy water after water change
» Java Fern (Microsorium Pteropus)
» Water Vac and Ich
» Green-ish water?
» softener water
» Java Fern (Microsorium Pteropus)
» Water Vac and Ich
» Green-ish water?
» softener water
:: Freshwater :: Plants :: Plant Profiles
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
» Anyone still around? Need help transporting fish
» Stocking suggestions
» New Tank Purchase
» 3 Gallon Tetra half moon tank
» White floaty stuff in gold fish tank
» Ammonia in tap water
» Need advice for beginner with fresh water tank
» Fluval FX5 hose size?
» smart fish, dumb fish, pink fish...um, what rhymes with dumb?
» Is K&E sandblasting sand same as Black diamond?
» What the...is that a leak? NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! (a comedy of horrors...)
» Air stones and the noise they make
» aquatic medications
» film like stuff on the water surface of shark tank
» Articles on swordtail behaviour and fathead minnows
» Lets see your predators!
» Humane way to PTS a shark
» My tanks (Introducing myself)
» Build your own aquarium