I just bought a couple of Pigmy Chain Sword plants today, and all of them are already sending up runners/flowers. Should I cut these since I just planted these plants? I imagine it would take up lots of energy to reproduce and I'm sure the plants need as much as possible in the beginning to root. Am I correct? I don't want to cut them if unnecessary, but I'd rather the plants get situated well vs reproduce right now. Should I clip these runners?
Cut runners?
- Thread starter Sumpin'fishy
- Start date
What are the specs on your tank? This would help think about the resources available to the plant.
Also in my expereince I would say leave them. I purchased an Oriental sword with the same situation and it did fine.
And actually when you plant it lean it over a little and put the runner in the substrate. This will encourage the plantlets on the shoot to root and reduce the draw on the main plant.
Also in my expereince I would say leave them. I purchased an Oriental sword with the same situation and it did fine.
And actually when you plant it lean it over a little and put the runner in the substrate. This will encourage the plantlets on the shoot to root and reduce the draw on the main plant.
I just thought of another possibility of what might happen:
Maybe if I leave them on the plants will use up their stored nutrients faster and need to look elswhere for food and grow roots quicker! Maybe it's better to leave them after all.
Maybe if I leave them on the plants will use up their stored nutrients faster and need to look elswhere for food and grow roots quicker! Maybe it's better to leave them after all.
Leave them on. They don't use much energy, and you need all the plants you can get.
How is your tank doing?
It might be a good idea to cut back about 1/2 on the ferts to allow all your plants to re-establish themselves. Maybe for a couple of weeks.
Len
How is your tank doing?
It might be a good idea to cut back about 1/2 on the ferts to allow all your plants to re-establish themselves. Maybe for a couple of weeks.
Len
That might be a good idea, Len (50% ferts). I just did a pretty big tank overhaul today. It involved getting rid of most of my Crypts. I still have a Ciliata and an Undulata in the middle, though. These seemed to be doing ok, although have had some difficulty. I trimmed about half of the leaves off of my Amazon Swords, I transfered two half-dead Crypts to my solo tank just to see if they would pull through!
After some serious pruning, I did a 5 gal thorough gravel vac (deep) on all available areas, then refilled with fresh water. I then did another 5 gallon gravel vac! After I refilled the tank I moderately dosed ferts and will be changing the water again Saturday, as normal.
Today I did get some more plants to help keep the tank algae and ammonia free, though, since I got rid of so many plants! I got 2 (turned out to be 3) Pigmy Chain Swords (w/runners) and 2 clumps of Java Moss (first time I've seen it around here!!!) I added one clump of the moss and the chain swords to the 20 gallon.
I'll try dosing around half starting Saturday. Thanks for the help, man.
After some serious pruning, I did a 5 gal thorough gravel vac (deep) on all available areas, then refilled with fresh water. I then did another 5 gallon gravel vac! After I refilled the tank I moderately dosed ferts and will be changing the water again Saturday, as normal.
Today I did get some more plants to help keep the tank algae and ammonia free, though, since I got rid of so many plants! I got 2 (turned out to be 3) Pigmy Chain Swords (w/runners) and 2 clumps of Java Moss (first time I've seen it around here!!!) I added one clump of the moss and the chain swords to the 20 gallon.
I'll try dosing around half starting Saturday. Thanks for the help, man.
Your welcome......if your LFS has them, pick up a bunch of Salvinia or any floaters that will suck up nutrients and help keep the tank algae free until these poor recovering plants have a chance to come back. Most floaters, pennywort,etc. are dirt cheap, but worth their weight in gold in emergency situations.
Len
Len