Java Fern cuttings

[reiverix]

I just moved my two java ferns from the back of my tank and attached it to my bogwood since my cabomba were overgrowing and making it hard to see.

Anyway, I noticed that each plant has a leave with some other tiny 1cm leaves growing right from the tip. Is there a point where I can take a cutting and grow them on, or is it best to just leave (no pun intended) them be.

[Leopardess]

Those are the adventitious baby plantlets that form. I'd leave them until they get bigger (an inch or two) then you can remove them and put them where you'd like. You can also leave them and they will eventually separate on their own and float around the tank until they attach themselves to something or you can then grab them and put them where you want.

Some leaves will grow many, many of those plantlets:

http://www.freewebs.com/narcisse529/Java%20baby%20leaf.JPG

The baby leaves do not get cut off, all you do is pull gently on them and they will release themselves. If you are pulling, and they are firmly stuck, its probably because they're not ready to separate themselves yet.

[reiverix]

The largest leave is now over an inch.

http://www.trueScotland.com/john/jfern.jpg

They are starting to grow all over the fern but I'll leave them for now. I plan on putting them in my new 75g. All three of my java ferns are now sprouting plantlets but they seem to be slow growers.