![]() ![]() (Learn more about it in our article How to Prevent Plant Melt) How do I trim and propagate stem plants? Emersed leaves will eventually melt once submerged since they are not suited for an underwater environment, so to avoid this whole process it is best to remove these portions prior to planting them in your aquarium. When first planting new stems that have been propagated out of the water (emersed), it’s best to trim the emersed portions before planting in an aquarium. ![]() ![]() Should I trim my stem plants before planting? Some examples of popular stem plants are Rotala H'ra, Ludwigia Natans Super Red, and Bacopa Monnieri. Aquascapers love their attractive colors and bushy growth pattern, which make them an attractive attention grabber for any tank. Dutch style aquariums which feature an abundance of different stem plants and zero hardscape, have become increasingly popular in the hobby. To propagate or split the plant, simply cut the rhizome with sharp scissors or a razor to separate a few leaves from the original plant.Īquatic stem plants are a widely popular category used in the backgrounds or as the focal point of freshwater aquariums. If a middle section of the rhizome begins to rot, you’ll have to trim that rotting part off and you will have 2 healthy ends of the plant to reuse. If the ends of the rhizome are rotting, simply cut off the unhealthy part with a pair aquascaping of scissors or a razor blade. When you notice the rhizome rotting or dying, it is best to trim away the dying part of the rhizome in order to save the rest of the plant. A dying section of rhizome will turn yellow, brown, or black, and will become soft and spongy. ![]() You can identify an unhealthy rhizome by its color and how it feels when you touch it. Trimming of these roots will not harm the plant because their main function is not to absorb nutrients, but just to anchor itself to a surface. When these holdfast roots become overgrown or unsightly, you may trim the roots as needed to maintain the look you want for your aquarium. The roots that come from the rhizome function as anchors for the plant to attach itself to wood and rock surfaces. When trimming a leaf, make sure to cut the leaf off as close to the rhizome as possible. Unhealthy, rotting, or browning leaves should always be trimmed off so that the plant can focus its resources and energy into new leaves and healthy parts. The rhizome itself must never be buried because it will prevent air or water to adequately flow across the rhizome, which will cause rot and ultimately, death of the plant. Instead, epiphytes can be attached to driftwood, rocks, or other hardscape. It's important to note that the rhizome should never be planted in substrate. The rhizome of these plants are a thick modified stem in which the roots and leaves grow from. Some examples are Anubias, Microsorums ( Java fern varieties), and Bucephalandra. Most epiphyte and rheophyte plants that we use in the hobby fall under the this category. In this article, we'll review how to trim: That leads to the question: how do you trim, prune, and propagate the many types of live aquarium plants? In a broad sense, we can generalize most of the plants we use in the hobby into 6 broad groups: rhizome plants, stem plants, rosette plants, carpeting plants, bulbs, and mosses. With so many different types available, it can be a little overwhelming to learn how to trim each type of aquarium plant. One of the greatest joys of keeping a planted tank (or any live plants in general) is to watch something that you take care of grow, thrive, and multiply! At some point however, your aquatic plants will be too overgrown and need to be trimmed, or maybe you'd like to propagate them to use in other projects or to farm them. ![]()
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