moving plants

[GrandeEsteban]

how bad is it to occasionally uproot your plants and change your tank around? I made some new caves from glueing some rocks to 2" PVC and the only way to effectively fit them in there is to move one of my Amazon Swords and a crypt. Any input would be great. Thanks!

steve

[Starry]

You shouldn't have any problems moving the sword. Be gentle when you pull it out, then trim the roots with sharp scissors before you replant it. You won't need more than an inch length. You can also cut off older leaves, because they might die anyway.

Crypts are a lot fussier. It's generally not a good idea to move them, as many people have found, including me. If you disturb it, it will most likely lose all or most of its leaves. This will happen very quickly, over a few days. It will just turn to mush. Just suck up the mush when you do a water change, but leave the plant alone. It will sprout new leaves within a few days, and it should recover. This really isn't the problem. The bigger problem is that it may not like the new spot. I've found crypts to be fussy this way. They will do well in one spot, and not like another spot. Some people have no problems with them though, so maybe it's just me :)

In any case, don't be afraid to move them. Just do the root trim, it stimulates the plant to grow new roots.

[Captain Hook]

I just got some vals recently and forgot to trim the roots before I planted them. :o :rolleyes:

Will this affect them sending out runners and slow their growth?

[tanker]

Originally posted by Captain Hook
I just got some vals recently and forgot to trim the roots before I planted them. :o :rolleyes:

Will this affect them sending out runners and slow their growth?
It would be fine. I do not always trim roots, about 1/4 I do. Trimming, if done right stimilates growth. Your val, if in a good emvironment will spread quickly.