Virgil Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Ive noticed the past few days a bunch of our plants have really taken off, have now reached the top of the tank. Just wondering the safest way to trim them (do i need too) Also can i take clippings from them and replant them? They are the green plants on the outside of the reddish looking ones, this pic was only taken a couple weeks ago, shows how much they have shot up! Funny enough the red ones which were brought at the same time are only half the height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JK Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 You sure can trim and replant Virgil. I have done this with some success in the past. Like with gardening there probably is a correct way of doing it. I've just been cutting randomly and then planting. Most have grown well but some have not so interested in hearing the right way of doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 You sure can trim and replant Virgil. I have done this with some success in the past. Like with gardening there probably is a correct way of doing it. I've just been cutting randomly and then planting. Most have grown well but some have not so interested in hearing the right way of doing it. Sweet, so just a matter of hit and miss then. Just curious to know how far down should i trim, or does that not matter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 It's pretty hard to do anything wrong when trimming stem plants. Just cut off the top, replant it and it'll grow new roots while the old stem will grow new tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 It's pretty hard to do anything wrong when trimming stem plants. Just cut off the top, replant it and it'll grow new roots while the old stem will grow new tips. Cheers that was what i was hoping to hear Really surprised how much these particular plants have just shot up recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 try and cut just above a bud or where leaves come out of the main stem by doing this reguarly u will end up with lots of plants and some of the taller weedier varieties are encouraged to branch out and bush up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 If it is the Star Grass - Heteranthera zosteraefolia on the far right not behind the driftwood - I usually pull the whole lot out, chop off about half the length, then replant it. (Usually by laying the stalks down and sticking a rock on top of them) This means that you have the nice top growth showing all the time. If you are not concerned about how it looks, you could just cut it down by two thirds and wait for it to regrow, do this selectively so that you have some top growth showing above the hacked off bits, rather than just a bunch of stalks. Don't be too conservative with your trimming if things are growing really well, otherwise you will end up with top heavy plants where they branch off and multiply where you have trimmed them, and get all leggy at the bottom because they get no light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 If it is the Star Grass - Heteranthera zosteraefolia on the far right not behind the driftwood - I usually pull the whole lot out, chop off about half the length, then replant it. (Usually by laying the stalks down and sticking a rock on top of them) This means that you have the nice top growth showing all the time. If you are not concerned about how it looks, you could just cut it down by two thirds and wait for it to regrow, do this selectively so that you have some top growth showing above the hacked off bits, rather than just a bunch of stalks. Don't be too conservative with your trimming if things are growing really well, otherwise you will end up with top heavy plants where they branch off and multiply where you have trimmed them, and get all leggy at the bottom because they get no light. Cheers, yep its the stuff on the far right and left. Have just shot up over the past week. Love to have more as the fish love swimming between and behind them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Replant the trimmings, make a forest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Sounds great, thats the plan anyway. Will do it tonight as the tank is due its weekly 20% water swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Seemed to go fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Looking good. Nice male Dwarf Gourami, too - ones with nice classic stripes are getting hard to find... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Looking good. Nice male Dwarf Gourami, too - ones with nice classic stripes are getting hard to find... Cheers, yeah lovin the Gouramis, bought a couple blue ones initially then over the weekend got the 2 red stripped fella's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JK Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Looks awesome virgil. Still got that new clean tank look about it too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 lol probaby because it is, only been a month. Cant believe how fast those plants on the ends are growing. Trimmed a good amount off on monday, yet they are now once again heading towards the top of the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 The stargrass needs good light and will go black without it so it is best to keep it in small clumps and short. You can cut off the top two thirds and plant in front of the stalks to hide them (and they will sprout again). The other plants like the red one have been grown emersed and are best left to convert to submersed growth before trimming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 The stargrass needs good light and will go black without it so it is best to keep it in small clumps and short. You can cut off the top two thirds and plant in front of the stalks to hide them (and they will sprout again). The other plants like the red one have been grown emersed and are best left to convert to submersed growth before trimming. Is that the stuff on the far left? Ive broken them up from 1 big clump into a few smaller ones..yep your right about leaves going black. The red ones havent really grown at all, so havent touched them trimming wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Looks like a bunch to the left and right. It is usually grown and in the shops in the emersed state but converts quickly and easily. It travels badly and is easily damaged in the submersed state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 The tall ones ive already trimmed wont stop growing! Will be requiring another trim this weekend. Is it normal for the plants to do nothing for a few weeks then suddenly shoot up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zabman Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Yup - very common, store bought plants often don't have roots and all plants need a little while "in situ" before they start growing again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 And as Alanmin says, most store bought plants are grown emersed (out of the water) and when you put them in your tank under the water (submersed), they take a while to get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.