Red mangroves

[AdamG280]

The leaves on my red mangrove are limp and hanging down. I got it about 2 weeks ago. It’s about 18 inches long and the roots just kind of hang down as they haven’t reached the substrate. I’ve never pruned or trimmed the roots because I know that kills it. Anybody have any idea what I’m doing wrong? Specific gravity is 1.024. Phosphates are at about 0.1 ppm and nitrates are about 5 ppm. Magnesium is around 1400 ppm. I was thinking if I start with a smaller plant with new roots, maybe I’d have better success.

 

[twentyleagues]

The leaves on my red mangrove are limp and hanging down. I got it about 2 weeks ago. It’s about 18 inches long and the roots just kind of hang down as they haven’t reached the substrate. I’ve never pruned or trimmed the roots because I know that kills it. Anybody have any idea what I’m doing wrong? Specific gravity is 1.024. Phosphates are at about 0.1 ppm and nitrates are about 5 ppm. Magnesium is around 1400 ppm. I was thinking if I start with a smaller plant with new roots, maybe I’d have better success.

Do you know if the mangrove was previously acclimated to salt water? Quite a few places start them out in freshwater. Taking it from fresh to salt will possibly have a negative result if not acclimated properly. Other considerations is lighting these need a pretty good amount of directed light on their leaves not just ambient light. Good point on being careful of the root structure had you not said that I would have wondered. There is still the possibility they were damaged inadvertently wouldnt hurt to check them over. These are my guesses with such a small time frame of ownership.

 

[AdamG280]

Do you know if the mangrove was previously acclimated to salt water? Quite a few places start them out in freshwater. Taking it from fresh to salt will possibly have a negative result if not acclimated properly. Other considerations is lighting these need a pretty good amount of directed light on their leaves not just ambient light. Good point on being careful of the root structure had you not said that I would have wondered. There is still the possibility they were damaged inadvertently wouldnt hurt to check them over. These are my guesses with such a small time frame of ownership.

Thank you. It was my assumption that salinity was playing a factor. My guess is that it wasn’t acclimated to saltwater. I’ve got great lighting. I was actually worried that I was giving too much light.

 

[twentyleagues]

I’ve got great lighting. I was actually worried that I was giving too much light.

Which is a possibility on a young plant but it would not present this way. You would get "burned" leaves first before the "stem" became soft. Lack of light could cause the issues you are seeing but I doubt that is the case.