Cryptocoryne cordata var. siamensis 'evae'

The plant pictured was given to me by a long time plant grower who's had this in his plant room for 30+ years as Cryptocoryne evae and has sold it to many enthusiasts over the years under that name.

Cryptocoryne evae and Cryptocoryne blassii are old names that are now considered synonyms Cryptocoryne cordata var. siamensis. Although they are now considered the same species, there can be subtle differences in the varieties that warrent keeping them separate in cultivation. For this reason the full name of the 'blassii' variety is Cryptocoryne cordata var. siamensis 'blassii' and therefore this 'evae' plant is Cryptocoryne cordata var. siamensis 'evae'.

Confusion in crypt taxonomy is not a new thing and there is more than one online database that still uses the "evae" name.

The source grower thinks the underside of the leaves may be paler red (more green) when compared to blassii, but that could also result from growing conditions (and that red leaf bottom left looks very much like my blassii). I'll grow evae side-by-side with blassii and see if any differences are maintained.

Cryptocoryne moehlmannii

Crypt. moehlmannii looks similar to Crypt. noritoi and Crypt. pontederiifolia so really need to make sure they are labelled clearly.  There are subtle differences in colour and the ridges on the leaves and   moehlmannii is a little "pointier" then noritoi.

Cryptocoryne noritoi

 

Cryptocoryne crispatula var. kubotae

Coming along nicely emersed and can be split soon.  see earlier post

Cryptocoryne wendtii 'flamingo'

These are young emersed plants kindly sent to me by another grower.    Its interesting that the young leaves got curled edges but the new leaves dont.  the flamingo colour is really only seen on new growth when grown in submersed culture but the pink tendancy is visible emersed. 

Cryptocoryne undulata 'brown'

Cryptocoryne undulata 'Kasselmann'

Oak leaf mould

"Leaf mould" is popular with European crypt growers so I've started putting oak leaf mould into my mixes.  Leaf mould is just the humus from composting leaves.  A few initial trials on emersed varieties of Crypt. undulata have been really good with improved growth rates and healthier looking leaves over just using peat moss and sand.  The leaf mould starts as raked up oak leaves in a cut down barrel that has no bottom where they compost down.  I keep adding to the top and stiring it occasionally.  When its ready I pass the broken down leaves through a 5mm garden sieve, keeping the smller fraction and returning bigger leaves to the barrel.

I've been using the oak leaf mould to replace some or all of the peat moss in a mix that is about 40% peat/oak, 50% sand and 10% red clay and shell grit.   We don't have many "blackwater" crypts in Australia that grow in pure leaf mould, but if they ever get here I'm ready.

Update: May 2017.  The pH of the mix is approx 7.2 so not acidic at all and not the best for the true blackwater crypts.  I certainly do think its benficial to the mix, but for species that need pH <6.0 this isn't going to do it... at least not in the form it is here.  I've got some in jars with Crypt cordata that have been festering as a slurry with water for a longer period of time and these are more acidic.  It might take a couple of months in water for the organic acids to really do their thing.