Java Fern Leaves

[Nick16]

hi, on one of the leaves on my java fern there appaers to be roots comming from the end of it? about 1.5cm long. what are they, im pretty sure they are roots but can i replant this bit or what? how long do i need to leave it before the roots get to a good enough length to plant etc? becuase i always thought java fern spread using the rhizome! these bits are attached to the end of a leaf.

 

[Gouken]

they are new plants just leave them be and soon you will have more java ferns.

 

[StrontiumDog]

These will come free from the mother plant by themselves just leave alone for now. eventually they will become free floating.

 

[Nick16]

oh wow, becuase it is on the biggest leaf and becuase of the roots the leaf is heading towards the substrate but as it is on wood, its a long way off? so it will un attach itself and start floating? how long does this take?

 

[aaronnorth]

it takes quite a long time, if you want you could cut the roots off if you dont want it, or pull it off once you see a reasonably developed rhizome form.

90% of the the mother leaf usually dies.

 

[SuperColey1]

I usually chop off any leave that is deteriorating or has plantlets on it because it starts to take nutrient from the healthy leaves. There is a theory that leaves that are deteriorating produce plantlets and not healthy leaves (they can grow direct from the rhizome)

Also leaving the 'mother' leaf until the plantlets are ready to 'disengage' means that leaf will leech ammonia into the tank and therefore algae will appear around it.

AC

 

[Nick16]

ok thanks. i have little leaves comming out of the rhizome? do i break the rhizome to form 2 plants? will it grow again?

 

[SuperColey1]

you can or you can leave it all to become a nice mature (and big) plant. With all rhizome plants you can split the rhizomes and make 2 plants.

AC

 

[fattikins]

On my java fern, I saw a plantlet developing and left it. The day after though, I was scraping algae off of the leaves and I accidentally took the plantlet off. The plantlet was really small too, only about 0.5 - 1 cm across. I let it float for a while, then it just dissapeared. A month later I saw a tiny little java fern poking out of the top of my driftwood! (It fell into a little crevice on top).