Mangroves: How big do they grow?

[Seriak]

Hey I have been growing a couple mangrives for the last few years and they are now about 3 feet tall and quite bushy. I keep having to raise the lights. Anyways, I know they are trees but how big will they get in the aquarium setting and would they eventually have roots strong enough to push through the glass?

[vanreefer]

huge and yes

[ree-fready]

Pictures.

[fakename]

Ummm, they grow into trees......trees. Like that you could climb. They have huge roots that could probably push through concrete with enough time.
Unlike tangs though, you can stunt the growth of many plants by keeping them in containers that keep them root bound. Just hope that glass is stronger than the roots....

[Delphinus]

Far out. I've been growing about 5 magroves from pods since 2002 and they're barely 12" tall in the three years I've been growing them. I figured they were extremely slow growing. How do you have yours growing? I WISH mine would grow at least a little.

[geopod]

I havent heard of Mangroves that big unless they were potted after they grew their leaves and placed outside....On that note....anyone in Edmonton have any for sale?I would like to buy one for my refugium.

george

[BT05]

I thought that you were supposed to trim most of the leaves off and just let the roots develop? Do you mean 3' tall including their roots or from the water line?

[Seriak]

I think 3' was rounding up. But I was including the roots as the roots extend down from the water line and the plant is 1'1/2 feet to 2' out of the water. I should really measure and give you exact measurements. They are only as short as they are because I didn't bother raising the lights so the leaves kept getting burned. I just recently raised the lights.

[Cap'n]

I thought the idea was to keep trimming them so they will continually have new growth and consume more excess nutrients from your system...Although, a larger plant would consume more for upkeep and growth...

Either way, I think it would look great. I'd love to see some pics as well.

[marie]

You should be able to keep the larger roots trimmed back, it's just the hair like small feeder roots that supply nutrients to the plant. No more then a third should be trimmed off at a time tho, any more and it stresses the tree.