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Why do plants lose their lower leaves?
- Thread starter master3z
- Start date
plants drop their lower leaves when insufficient co2 reaches that part of the plant.
eureka!!! That must be the reason that the cabomba in my friends low tech tank ditches its lower foliage when the plant reaches the water surface... i assumed it was because of the very dark conditions nearer substrate level- due to the plants spreading out across the surface.spyder said:
darren636 said:
This is a misconception, it is co2 related. Just look at Dutch style tanks for examples of why it's untrue.. The bottoms of my rotalla has no perceivable light but don't drop leaves. It's all about co2.
Matt Warner
Member
I have found some plants such as star grass to lose its lower leaves when there is less light available such as at the bottom of the tank. Other plants however do not lose their leaves as easily at lower light levels. Although I agree with you all that low co2 can cause leaf loss at lower levels in the tank, this is true with most plants but some which like very direct light such as h.zosterifolia (Stargrass) will melt very quickly if there is hardly any light.
plantbrain
Expert
- Joined
- 2 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 1,938
Both CO2/light, and even nutrients.
When the leaf is not worth keeping around because it is not cxontributing much/anything to the whole plant, then the plants will sacrifice it.
Self pruning is another way to look at it.
Takes the old leaves and use them as reserves..........to the new growth on top which is closer to the light and closer to the surface where more CO2 is available.
With CO2 enrichment, plants are able to utilize light more efficiently.
So all the resources can go to gathering light.
So a plant will have a LOWER light compensation point(LCP) than in a non CO2 tank.
But light will still play some role, also, species have vastly differential abilities and tolerances to CO2 concentrations and light intensity.
When the leaf is not worth keeping around because it is not cxontributing much/anything to the whole plant, then the plants will sacrifice it.
Self pruning is another way to look at it.
Takes the old leaves and use them as reserves..........to the new growth on top which is closer to the light and closer to the surface where more CO2 is available.
With CO2 enrichment, plants are able to utilize light more efficiently.
So all the resources can go to gathering light.
So a plant will have a LOWER light compensation point(LCP) than in a non CO2 tank.
But light will still play some role, also, species have vastly differential abilities and tolerances to CO2 concentrations and light intensity.
This could well be too much light if you have no co2 delivery.
Tom explained the "recycling" in more depth.
So back to your case, it could well be high light, low co2 so the plant is recycling tissue to recover carbon to keep up with the high lighting you are using. Stems will bolt for the surface where they can poke out and get atmospheric co2.
At the end of the day, it's just a guess as we don't know the size/volume of your aquarium.
Tom explained the "recycling" in more depth.
plantbrain said:
So back to your case, it could well be high light, low co2 so the plant is recycling tissue to recover carbon to keep up with the high lighting you are using. Stems will bolt for the surface where they can poke out and get atmospheric co2.
At the end of the day, it's just a guess as we don't know the size/volume of your aquarium.
