This is a side by side comparison of two very commonly confused plant phenomenon. Both plants are in the same tank. The Samolus parviflorus 'Red' (left) is streaming while the Rotala ‘Blood red’ (right) is pearling.
The plant on the left is streaming, with bubbles leaking out of it at almost regular intervals via a single spot on the plant. This happens due to damage to the plant causing gases to leak. This can happen due to gazing action by shrimp (especially the larger shrimp types like amano shrimp), or physical action from us during maintenance. The plant will heal itself and seal the breach eventually.
On the right we have a pearling plant, with bubbles forming and collecting on the surfaces of the plant. This is due to excessive photosynthetic action which causes the water to be super saturated with oxygen. Oxygen is being produced faster than it can be dissolved in the water, hence the collection.
Posted by ZeroPauper
3 Comments
Very informative but one thing I have to ask because I think it’s weird.
Hornwort flowers the little buds, under intense light, they start “streaming” while some of the plant on the furthest end may pearl on the plant.
where its streaming is most red. The end of the plant pearling is mostly green.
What do you make of this? Can streaming not also be a way for a plant to pearl if it’s under intense stress?
[example: stem of the hornwort is red here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/PlantedTank/s/6d1PLJJgVJ)
Thank you so much for making this clear comparison.
So pearling is a good thing and streaming is a bad thing?