Cabomba

[treedae]

I've recently "planted" some of these in my tank and get somewhat annoyed when they individually decide to float out of their place in the gravel. :rant: :rant:

Will these plants eventually develop roots or are they doomed to live the rest of their life as a stem?

 

[sman91wing]

Mine did over time, it might depend on the substrate you have them in.

 

[Leopardess]

They will to a degree, provided that you leave them there to root awhile and trim them from the tops (which, if you're replanting the tops you've cut off...you have to worry about those staying down hehe). However, being a stem plant, it tends to act like one I would suggest getting a pair of long tweezers if you don't already have some. They make planting easier and facilitate pushing the stems farther down into the gravel. So, planting them deeper will help. You can also try using rocks near the bases or using plant weights to weigh them down while they take root.

 

[Starry]

They shouldn't float up after the first few days. A lot of stem plants take root within days, and some develop surprisingly extensive root systems if not pruned often. The best way to prune stem plants, BTW, is to uproot, cut off the bottom, and just replant the top, since this is the pretty part. Old sections near the bottom will yellow, weaken and lose leaves with time, and you don't want to be cutting off the new growth (the top) all the time. Maybe alternate top pruning with uprooting if you find it too much of a chore.
But anyway, Cabomba will root for you. It also depends on the substrate type and size. Most plants have trouble rooting in large, smooth gravel. Something like Flourite it much better at keeping them down and promoting growth.
I hope you have plenty of light, because this plant needs it.
Good luck

 

[TonyN]

IMO thats the whole problem with Cabomba. By the time it starts to root, it's time to uproot them and cut the bottoms off. I really like the stuff, but I have to prune (from the bottom), twice a week to keep them the way I want them.
I'd love to find something else that looks just as nice, but is slow growing.
Any ideas?

 

[JazzyB]

So, planting them deeper will help. You can also try using rocks near the bases or using plant weights to weigh them down while they take root.

I recently setup another 42G planted tank and had to utilize small rocks as well to keep them weighted down.

JazzyB

 

[DeepTrip]

I just bought some Cabomba, and face the same problem, except, it is my goldfish who uproot them. I wonder, what do you tie them with? Just an ordinary thread?

Benny

 

[Robert H]

It all depends on LIGHT. Cabomba is a very light intensive plant. With 3 to 5 watts per gallon and C02, it will grow and take root easily. If the stems simply rot from the bottom up, it is because you do not have enough light. It is also more of a cold water plant. You can cook this plant easily if you keep the water temp over 80 degrees F consistently.

 

[DeepTrip]

But how do I keep it to the gravel before it grows its root? What should I tie them with?

 

[TonyN]

Just wrap a plant weight around them and stick them in the gravel. Before they root, they are going to grow too tall and you're going to want to take them out and prune them anyway. So don't worry about them rooting. They don't need to.