Java Fern

Impudence12

Impudence12

Broke Aquarist
Jul 3, 2007
300
1
0
Charlotte, NC
I have some java fern, and to my surprise it's not dead, and it's actually growing more leaves. I've read a bunch about it, but specifc questions still allude me. I know that the fern grows larger by the large root and I can create more by breaking the root and resecuring it elsewhere. I also read that the fern grows sproutlets on it's leaves which fall off? later. Are both these ways of growing supposed to be happening at the same time? One doesn't suggest the plant expects to die or something so it produces sprouts? Do the sprouts fall off and then secure themselves to something else after they get large, or do they continue to grow on the leaves?

Here are some pictures. The leave based sprouts and the roots growing new leaves. There's still a bunch of dark spots, altho they have seemed to heal up since I bought it. (it's only a couple weeks old since I got it)

IMG_1862.JPG IMG_1860.JPG
 
Java fern will grow via the rhizome and also produce plantlets at the same time. The plantlets will eventually break free from the mother plant once it's grown a decent root structure.

New plantlets will grow from healthy leaves, though leaf decay do seem to stimulate the production of new plants.
 
Just be sure not to bury the rhizome if you plant the java fern in the gravel. It will cause it to rot. Better yet, attach ferns to driftwood or rocks.
 
by bury, do you mean a certain depth, or just covering it with gravel. I have trouble believing (also I've never read a warning not to plant it altho it is standard to attach it) that the root would rot if covered with gravel.
 
From what I understand Java Fern (and Anubias) needs a lot of water circulating around the rhisome (main root body), so any coverage at all is potentially a problem. The deeper the rhisome is planted the more likely that there will not be enough circulation and the rhisome will die. I would definately keep the rhisome completely abovethe gravel. Small roots hanging off can be buried to keep the plant down, but that's all.
 
I have read in a few places when looking up java fern about anubias(es?) rhisomes and that they should not be planted. Altho finding the same warning for java fern is alot harder. Also some forums with people asking questions about java fern and telling stories plant them, or even say they grow down into the gravel.

One way or the other, it's barely in the gravel. I just brushed enuff over the root to keep it from floating away (wish I had some of those plant clamp things)
 
If you can get a chunk of real drift wood, tie it to that with some regular fishing line ($2 at most stores). Any decoration will work but the roots will grow into real wood and the plant will explode with groth much faster. After the plant holds onto the object itself you can cut off the fishing line if you want, or leave it cause it's almost invisible anyway. Tieing the plant to an object lets you move it when you clean the tank. Such a tiny plant with a few roots held down with gravel will probably float away on it's own, and need to be re planted over and over, and will grow extreamly slowly. You want to give your tiny plant lots of TLC because it is so small and delicate.
 
The plantlets will not kill the plant. The leaf that the plantlets are on will die. I usually detach the plantlets with the leaf when the leaf turns brown.

Yes both these things will happen at the same time. When the plantlets become detached from the plant, i usually let them float until they are a size that will allow them to be secured to rock or wood. The rhisome is fragile and needs to be exposed as stated. This plant comes from and area where it is submerge months at a time.
 
The reason you are having trouble finding info on java fern rhizome-rotting, is probably because this plant isn't normally 'planted' in gravel...it is attached to wood/rocks. But just like other plants with rhizomes, avoid burying it...it will rot and/or produce very poor growth. Java fern doesn't use it roots for drawing nutrients, anyway...they simply provide the plant a means for attaching to things (wood/rock). The plant draws it's nutrients through it's leaves.
 
ok, I went hunting for some driftwood. There's no water anywhere near here, so I opted to go hunting in the city owned lot beside the house. It has a few trees and gravel. I found a nice peice that is a quarter of a branch like a pie slice if you looked at the end. It's definitly dead and it doesn't seem to have any signs of rotting. The wood is like a rock. I'm following the driftwood article here, but it doesn't mention much on whether it's safe to use not driftwood wood.

Is there some underlying reason not to use this wood (after boiling and soaking for weeks) The trees around it seem to be maple.
 
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