Trimming advise

[NikkiY]

Hi there,

I have a planted tank. My plants (Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius) have been growing quite well. Actually too well. They are growing a little too tall. How should I trim it down? I want to trim it down to the bare minimum to let it grows tall again. I notice that if I cut down a few stems in the middle, the other half will remain and never grow out another leave.

What are you advices? Is there a site that talkes about trimming of aquatic plants?

Thanks.

Nikki

 

[Dubby]

Heres a clipping from www.tropica.com

"In marshy conditions Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius has round leaves with a horizontal leaf base. Under water the leaves are narrower and longer. In the aquarium it tends to grow out of the water. This can be prevented by removing the long leaves just before they reach the water surface. The next leaves will then become shorter and the plant will remain under water. In open aquariums the plant can be allowed to grow out of the water, but the leaf margins often dry out if air humidity is low."

 

[NikkiY]

Hi Dubby,

Thanks. I have that one too. But it doesn't seem to work for me. Once I cut the leaf, the stem will not go away and no new leaf will grow from it. What I really want to do is to trim the whole plant down and let it start over again. I am interested to know if this is possible and how to trim it down withoug killing the plant in the process.


Nikki

 

[Dubby]

Once I cut the leaf, the stem will not go away and no new leaf will grow from it.

These are stemless plants so what you are left with is still the existing leaf.

I dont have that variety but I do have the common Amazon sword. I just clip a few cm off the tips of leaves which get too tall.

If the overall effect is not good I clip right at the base. This promotes new leaves to grow from the base (not from existing leaf)

 

[newfishies]

not to hijack, but what do you use to cut the leaves/stems off?

 

[NikkiY]

Once I cut the leaf, the stem will not go away and no new leaf will grow from it.

These are stemless plants so what you are left with is still the existing leaf.

I dont have that variety but I do have the common Amazon sword. I just clip a few cm off the tips of leaves which get too tall.

If the overall effect is not good I clip right at the base. This promotes new leaves to grow from the base (not from existing leaf)

Dubby,

Yeah, I have similar experience. I have started to cut from the bottom too.

Thanks!

Nikki

 

[NikkiY]

not to hijack, but what do you use to cut the leaves/stems off?

No. That's fine. I don't think you are hijacking the thread at all

For me, I use pair of scissors. I also have those long reach planting scissors that you can get from the LFS. Sometimes, I found it easier to use a small dissection knife to cut the plant at the bottom to get a really clean look.

Hope this helps.

Nikki

 

[Dubby]

not to hijack, but what do you use to cut the leaves/stems off?

I use my nails to pinch out the stems and scissors for larger leaves.