by Francesco Zezza

Well, folks! It looks like the water (Anubias) and the swamp (Nymphaea sp.) are the guest stars of the month!!! Nymphaea plants (well, actually, their flowers) have ALWAYS fascinated me a lot, even when, for some reason, I never gave ’em a try. But after having set up my FIRST outside tank almost 10 months ago (I’m, possibly, forecasting a pond!), I decided that it was time time to give ’em a try!

I know NOTHING about the plants beyond the fact that they are endangered (never collect them from the wild!), that some (such as the Victoria regia) can have leaves as wide as 2 meters - about 7 feet - and can hold the weight of an ADULT man without sinking, and that they fear frost (pure breed, again!). After discussing the fact with Stefania for awhile, I finally got the plant. They are not that nice to look at when they are not in "growth period".

I chose a hybrid after being assured by the green-house keeper of his "bravery" to withstand temperatures  CLOSE to (OR BELOW!) the freezing point in the winter, took the plant home, and put it in my outside tank (140 liters of gross capacity; see 1^st pic):

Then, after ONLY two or three weeks … BINGO!!!

Two remarkable (at least, to me) pink and whitish flowers: they open a bit after dawn and close at dusk.

A close-up of one of flowers (the small filter servicing the tank is clearly in sight in background). These plants need a LOT of sunlight (direct and "unshaded") to thrive and flower …

Sorry! Nothing else to add as the plant and flowers arrived too early, and I’m still studying on them …but I DO hope you’ll enjoy them the way I do!!!

  Many thanks to Carli De Busk for her editorial help.