Crinum calamistratum is very similar in habit and requirements (IME it's smaller, but only a bit), but has narrower leaves with very tightly crenulated margins. Sort of a more "aristocratic " version of thaianum. Better specialty aquarium outlets should stock it. I've grown it in CO2-dosed aquaria, and it is spectacular. best regards, Dave On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 1:41 PM, James Waddick <jwaddick@kc.rr.com> wrote: > Dear Alani and all, > > This is an excellent posting and full of real practical experience. > > Foliage up to 12 ft long . Wow. > > It does seem that the high light level needed for good growth is > enough to fry buds and flowers that develop in this heat. > > It seems very likely that bulbs offered in these retail pet stores > are nursery grown - they are fairly uniform in size and cheap and numerous. > I imagine they sell for pennies in Thailand before they get packaged and > imported to the sales racks. > > Seems like they would rapidly out grow most home aquaria, too. > > Again thanks for all this info. Still absorbing it. > Best Jim W. > > > > > > On Jan 31, 2013, at 8:22 PM, Alani Davis wrote: > > > I have grown Crinum thaianum for about 20 years in aquaria and during the > > summer in various ponds and water gardens. It will grown in fairly > shallow > > water water but really prefers some depth.........the foliage which can > easily get up to 9-12 ft long or more. > > > I have switched to a T5 > > HO florescent fixture with four bulbs. > > > . I have also been growing the African aquatic species > > Crinum calamistratum and Crinum natans which have beautifully undulated > > foliage and grow in the same conditions as Crinum thaianum. > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >