Anyone try the "State Plantation" effect with stem plants?

[beviking]

I'm talking about state forests that the trees were planted evenly apart.
I think I'll try this with my Hygro polysperma. Remove the lower leaves (just high enough to clear the cave they're surrounding) and plant the stems individually. The tops will still look full and not so structured and the stems will give my loaches some weaving exercise.
Opinions?

 

[RTR]

Well, yes and no. How's that for a wishy-washy response?

I do that in veggie filters, as I seem to get the best nutrient uptake overall that way - and yes, the plants at the ends of the tank grow more slowly than those in the central 2/3s. But also no, I have not done in so in what passes (barely) for aquascaped in my house. But I see your reasoning and can accept that - in a comparable situation I would definitely try it and see how it turns out in practice. I'd be interested in hearing the results if you do test it. Sort of slalom for fish... I do like the thought.

 

[djlen]

It would be interesting to see how that experiment comes out.

I plant up to 8 - 10 stems together sometimes to get a bushy, full
plant, but I also keep my stems short, so when planted that way and the inevitable lower leaf die off occurs from lack of light, I just pull them up, snip off the tops and replant.
I can prune and replant all my stems this way about every other water change, in about 10 minutes.

Len

 

[beviking]

Please RTR. Given the longevity of your aquascaping years (and I don't know how many that is exactly), I'm pretty sure what you call "barely aquascaping" would be award winning aquascaping to most! Yes, slalom was the word I was looking for! Thanks.

I think I'll be doing this re-planting this weekend (if I can stand to wait that long!) so I should let you know by next week how it looks. Truth be told, we finally bought a digital camera but I've been holding off with pics until I get things the way I want them. Better just take the pics! Its and endless rearrangement in my tank!