Plants
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Alien Anna
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That's the beauty of live plants - an endless supply of freebies 
Yes, that's what I do - take cuttings of my cuttings.
Yes, that's what I do - take cuttings of my cuttings.
Depends on the type of plant of course. Generally, plants that have a stem with leaves attached to it, yes, nip the end off and stick it in the sand. Won't work with grassy type plants like Vallis which propogate vegetatively by sending runners along the sand with small plantlets attached to them.
>>> stick the cutting staight into the gravel
Basically yes. If the cuttings are very buoyant, they will float out of coarser gravel, (less likely with sand). If this proves to be the case, you will need to find some way to anchor them. You could try placing the cut end under a stone, or bunch a few together with an elastic band and place some gravel into the "cup".
In any case, try not to crush the stems as they will then rot before the new roots, (which tend to cone from beneath a leaf/leafpair junction), develop. It is a good idea if you are nipping the end of with your fingers or something to trim the ends of the stem with a sharp knife to minimise crushing damage. Some plants, Hornwort for example, do not form good roots and tend to float anyway.
Most stemmed aquatics plants will grow this way.
Basically yes. If the cuttings are very buoyant, they will float out of coarser gravel, (less likely with sand). If this proves to be the case, you will need to find some way to anchor them. You could try placing the cut end under a stone, or bunch a few together with an elastic band and place some gravel into the "cup".
In any case, try not to crush the stems as they will then rot before the new roots, (which tend to cone from beneath a leaf/leafpair junction), develop. It is a good idea if you are nipping the end of with your fingers or something to trim the ends of the stem with a sharp knife to minimise crushing damage. Some plants, Hornwort for example, do not form good roots and tend to float anyway.
Most stemmed aquatics plants will grow this way.
Should I add some of the plant food direct to the cutting. or is there anything else I should use. I know in house plants you can get powder that you put on roots to help them grow
And should I take the exciting plants out of there pots (Weighting them down if necissary. Im guessing that this will eventually become pot bond as house plants do.
Thanks for you help
And should I take the exciting plants out of there pots (Weighting them down if necissary. Im guessing that this will eventually become pot bond as house plants do.
Thanks for you help
focus
Fish Fanatic
just been to my lfs to get another plant and we got to talking on plants and how to grow.
now i have plants in my tank but there not growing as i hoped,he then said have i got a co2 unit
no
do i really need a co2 to help plants grow or dose he want my money
now i have plants in my tank but there not growing as i hoped,he then said have i got a co2 unit
no
do i really need a co2 to help plants grow or dose he want my money
Alien Anna
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CO2 does work like magic, I have to confess, but it is perfectly possible to do without it.focus said:just been to my lfs to get another plant and we got to talking on plants and how to grow.
now i have plants in my tank but there not growing as i hoped,he then said have i got a co2 unit
no
do i really need a co2 to help plants grow or dose he want my money
Thankfully, there are some budget CO2 systems on the market now - I've just bought a Nutrifin CO2 system that generates CO2 from yeast. It cost me £13 for a unit, plus refills are going to cost about £1 per month if I buy online. I was told that once you got CO2 you'd wonder how you ever managed without it, and I certainly see what they mean. I've had amazing plant growth after only 36 hours!
focus
Fish Fanatic
ok thanks alot i am going to remodel mytank in the next few days so i might go and get a co2 unit then
PS do i need to get rid of my air stone?
PS do i need to get rid of my air stone?
Alien Anna
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I'd keep it if I were you, particularly if you get CO2.focus said:PS do i need to get rid of my air stone?
focus:
If your plants are not growing with your existing setup, you may want to considert your water chemistry and lighting. There are a few plants that will grow in just about any water, but the majority have trouble in hard alkali water - if you have this, look for some plants that are happy with it. Anubias sp. are tolerant of hard water, and lower lighting levels, (but grow very slowly).
Even plants that are quoted as low light plants do require enough light.
What plants and lights have you got, how is your water, and how deep is your aquarium?
If your plants are not growing with your existing setup, you may want to considert your water chemistry and lighting. There are a few plants that will grow in just about any water, but the majority have trouble in hard alkali water - if you have this, look for some plants that are happy with it. Anubias sp. are tolerant of hard water, and lower lighting levels, (but grow very slowly).
Even plants that are quoted as low light plants do require enough light.
What plants and lights have you got, how is your water, and how deep is your aquarium?
kev:
>>> plant food direct to the cutting
Nah, not generally necessary.
>>> powder that you put on roots to help them grow
Hormone powder, I believe it is pretty toxic, so a bad idea, also would probably wash off before you got the cutting into the ground.
>>> should I take the exciting plants out of there pots
Most of the pots I've seen have large holes or slots in them, if that is the case, the roots will grow through the holes. Removing them will probably damage the existing roots.
>>> plant food direct to the cutting
Nah, not generally necessary.
>>> powder that you put on roots to help them grow
Hormone powder, I believe it is pretty toxic, so a bad idea, also would probably wash off before you got the cutting into the ground.
>>> should I take the exciting plants out of there pots
Most of the pots I've seen have large holes or slots in them, if that is the case, the roots will grow through the holes. Removing them will probably damage the existing roots.
focus
Fish Fanatic
don't ask me what plants i got just don't no they are growing but not that well
my light is on for about 11 hours a dayand my water is all good it was just my lfs said that i need a co2 unit if a was to grow plants well he also said to get rid of my air stone if i do get a co2 couse he said it dose more harm then good
my light is on for about 11 hours a dayand my water is all good it was just my lfs said that i need a co2 unit if a was to grow plants well he also said to get rid of my air stone if i do get a co2 couse he said it dose more harm then good
Sorry for replying individually like that, I have a problem posting long messages!!!
>>> my lfs said that i need a co2 unit if a was to grow plants
Cynical hat on, "well they would wouldn't they"!!! Seriously, if you got real problems with your plants, adding CO2 will not magically solve them. If your water is within the plants tolerance range, then have you enough light on 11 hours a day. On a typical 15" deep tank, I would use at least 3 full length tubes for example, sometimes more, depends on the spectrum of the tube and what plants I'm using.
People grew plants successfully for years before CO2 injectors came along.
Cynical hat on, "well they would wouldn't they"!!! Seriously, if you got real problems with your plants, adding CO2 will not magically solve them. If your water is within the plants tolerance range, then have you enough light on 11 hours a day. On a typical 15" deep tank, I would use at least 3 full length tubes for example, sometimes more, depends on the spectrum of the tube and what plants I'm using.
People grew plants successfully for years before CO2 injectors came along.
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