I've got some plants here in my 15long that I am planning on using in my 20g Cork Scape I'm working on... The two in question are the stems, which I'm not entirely sure what they are any more. I knew at one point, but have forgotten the actual names. I keep browsing around expecting to see a picture with the name attached and have it all come back, but it hasn't.
AAAAAAanyway, what I'm interested in, more than just the names, is how to BEST use them in my new scape. Obviously they need to be near the back and need vertical space. I've got that covered. I think they'll get enough light too. I've also planned on giving them a deeper root bed than they are used to, because I have noticed a lot of exposed roots that seem overcrowded.
I have 2 main concerns:
1. proximity
in the photo below, you can see how the finer plant really loses it's leaves where it doesn't get enough light. will this be a perpetually losing race if I bunch them together behind the thicker redder ones? how close would you plant them to acheive a thick, but localized pocket of these rising behind the reds? will one outcompete the other for root space?
2. replanting
I know I'll have to trim both of these periodically as they get tall. I've been doing this, and have also gotten a bunch of new plants sprouting in close proximity. I guess the missing detail for me here, is what the best practice is for the trimming, replanting process. Should I cut them at what point on the stalk? am I taking the top 6" off it or cutting it to the floor and removing the middle? do I replant middles? keep the roots of older plants? also, when replanting the cut portions, is it ok to replant right there, next to where it was cut off or will this make it harder for the cutting to root? what's the best way to prune to avoid as much spindly crap stems and exposed roots? and most importantly: how do I promote the most new plantlet growth? the new plants are far more attractive than the older adults.
AAAAAAanyway, what I'm interested in, more than just the names, is how to BEST use them in my new scape. Obviously they need to be near the back and need vertical space. I've got that covered. I think they'll get enough light too. I've also planned on giving them a deeper root bed than they are used to, because I have noticed a lot of exposed roots that seem overcrowded.
I have 2 main concerns:
1. proximity
in the photo below, you can see how the finer plant really loses it's leaves where it doesn't get enough light. will this be a perpetually losing race if I bunch them together behind the thicker redder ones? how close would you plant them to acheive a thick, but localized pocket of these rising behind the reds? will one outcompete the other for root space?
2. replanting
I know I'll have to trim both of these periodically as they get tall. I've been doing this, and have also gotten a bunch of new plants sprouting in close proximity. I guess the missing detail for me here, is what the best practice is for the trimming, replanting process. Should I cut them at what point on the stalk? am I taking the top 6" off it or cutting it to the floor and removing the middle? do I replant middles? keep the roots of older plants? also, when replanting the cut portions, is it ok to replant right there, next to where it was cut off or will this make it harder for the cutting to root? what's the best way to prune to avoid as much spindly crap stems and exposed roots? and most importantly: how do I promote the most new plantlet growth? the new plants are far more attractive than the older adults.
