buying and propagating plants

[Andy16]

I looked at some the of the prices of plants and they seemes kinda expensive. Well not really but to fill a tank it would cost a nice sum of money. SO i was wondering if most people just buy a couple and then use the cuttings to fill up the rest of the tank. Also i know that some plants you cant use cuttings, so then do you just wait till they send out runners or whatever?

 

[djlen]

How you do it depends on the situation. For a newly set up tank I like to fill the tank with as many plants as possible. This along with adding mulm from an established tank instantly cycles the tank. In an established tank, the more sensible way to add plants is a few at a time and then propagate from there with the ones that do well for you.
Stem plants are easy to propagate. Just cut off the tops and replant. Rosette plants multiply in other ways. Some plants send runners and others multiply or enlarge through rhizome growth etc. and here more patience is necessary.
Some plants just don't grow for me while others flourish in my tanks. So when buying different plants, I just get a few and see how they do for me. Rather than fight the system, I chuck the ones that don't do well and move on with the ones that perform.
Len

 

[Andy16]

The tank is established so i think ill use mostly cutttings. These only work with the really tall plants like vallisnera right? ( i probably did spell that right, i dont even know its tall but i htink it is lol.)

 

[djlen]

Val. propagates by way of runners. You can get species of Val. that grow 6 - 8" or the grow more than 2'. It is a fast grower with fairly good light and especially with CO2. You can not trim it.
You cut the runners and replant.
Len