Jave Ferns...some quick questions

[pzuzu]

I just got several bunches of java fern. They are not looking really healthy: a few black spots and some kind of algae that grows in a tiny mound with little black hairs. At least I hope that's algae. Anyway, I just put them on several pieces of driftwood in my tank. I have a great plant habitat going on with plenty of light and I use Flourish, Flourish Excel, Flourish Trace, and DIY CO2. Will this heal up the leaves and allow the ferns to...flourish? Basically, will they heal, or did I just waste my time?

Also, if they heal and start looking greener and healthier, how exactly does Java Fern grow? I mean, will it form brand new leaves, or do I pretty much always have the same amount of leaves?

And while I'm at it, how do you propagate java moss? I got some and tied it to driftwood as well and was wondering if once it grows thicker, do I just cut it wherever and re-plant it? Simple as that or is there something else?

Thanks!
Fernando

[Lisa01]

Leave the black alone.I am teling you from experience. I thought mine was dead. I threw it into a bucket of water and left it - withn 2 weeks it turned this lovely green...brown means dead not black......I believe it went into some sort of dormant survival stage.
It will thicken up on its own (and take over) just pull it apart when it gets too thick).

I hope this helps

Lisa

[TKOS]

Java fern is very good at gettig black spots on it. I rarely see pristine leaves. As for how it grows. Well it will grow in 2 ways. The rhizome at the base of the plant will grow and new leaves will come from it. Then as leaves age and start to die off you will see small roots growing from the dying leaves (they may still be very green at the time). These are baby plantlets forming. Eventually whole tiny java ferns will be formed and waiting for the main leaf to die off so they can separate and find a new home. When they are suitable size then you can remove them yourself and replant.

Java moss I find is a slow starter. But one dy you will wonder how all that moss got there. You can cut some off and retie it to some drift wood or a rock or something. It is very undemanding.

[NoчnoyGostь]

Just to add to java moss info, in my experience even a single strand when separated will continue growing into a new mass of moss (it will take a long time though)...

[nursie]

TKOS is right..those tiny mounds with black hairs are little plantlets starting to grow. Take care of them and they will eventyally grown into little plantlets. I actually staple mine to driftwood. I tried tying it untill I saw the thread rotting and drifting in my tank :eek:
If they fall off or pull through the staple, I just pull the old staple out and restaple.

[Intermision]

Can you grow the moss in gravel substrate?

[phanmc]

Java fern can be lightly planted into the substrate, don't plant the rhizome (the tuber like mass where the leaves grow from) too deep or the plant will die.

Java moss can be weighed down into the substrate and, as long as they receive some light, will slowly cover the substrate.

[pzuzu]

I have had my java ferns weighed down now for some time on my driftwood. Will they eventually lock into it and stay without being weighed down? Or should they always remain weighed down?

And if the roots do grown unto the wood, about how long does it take for that to happen?

Thanks!
Fernando

[NoчnoyGostь]

Java Ferns will eventually get attached to the driftwood and it shouldn't take long... I had my Java Fern weighed down for about 2-3 weeks and when I took the weight off, I couldn't get the Fern off the driftwood. I'm not sure about the time it takes for the Fern to get attached though, it might depend on the conditions it is kept in, if it is comfortable and nobody bothers it, it should grow into the driftwood pretty fast.