GrahamC Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I noticed a few weeks back that I had a java fern leaf that had detached from the rhizome and was floating in the tank. It had patchy brown spots on it so presumably nutrient deficiency. Anyway I neglected to remove it, and it has remained in the tank floating near the surface. Step forward to today, and it's still there, still mostly green, and now some plantlets are growing from it. So, my question is, since stress causes the plantlets to appear, and since single leaves can appear to survive free floating, is it a reasonable method to encourage plantlets by cutting single leaves off a mature plant and let them float? The cut leaves will be stressed maybe, and then might sprout? And what do I do to the plantlets as they detach? Just let them float around or get them to attach to something? Does it make a difference? My tank has silica sand only, and I've feeding it some flourish with PWCs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Java reproduces by sending up plantlets from those brown spots, or from where you cut it off. You can also encourage new growth by snapping or cutting the roots, or snapping leaves in half. It does not mind being left to float about or you can anchor it down if you prefer. Sometimes it helps to leave them floating until they grow enough roots long enough to slip under a rock, notch in some driftwood, or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 all of my floating leaves have eventually rotted away without making a baby plant... is there a trick to cutting it in a good place or just luck of the draw whether it starts a plant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I've got some tiny plantlets growing off my ferns on the log. How big do they get before they split? Is it like the Amazon sword where I'm supposed to leave them to fall off by themselves? (My Bad, I didn't know, and cut them :tears: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Sometimes they do not split and just grow as big as the parents - they are pretty self sufficient from a couple of tiny leaves and usually survive quite well if knocked off. I have some good sized plantlets hanging off the sides of leaves still attached to the mother plant and only yank them off it there are too many of them or I want to put them somewhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 http://fishpix.s3.amazonaws.com/IMG_0293.JPG The plantlet shown in the middle is over 10 cm long from stem to leaf tip. I could have pulled it off but generally wait until they fall off when I'm doing tank maintenance. http://fishpix.s3.amazonaws.com/IMG_0294.JPG This free floating leaf has developed plantlets at the tip, a couple of cm from the tip, and one just above the pond snail. I was intending to pull the leaf out and chuck it ... but interesting that it has survived as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 http://fishpix.s3.amazonaws.com/IMG_0293.JPG Yea, mine are about the size of the one to the left of your fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I'd estimate that it takes 6 months to get to the 10+ cm size from the tiny ones in a low lighting situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 My big was was found in a handful of java moss. It grew from a plantlet the size of the new ones. Grew much faster than 6months, must have been good lighting :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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