I'm a Java fern farmer

[irishspy]

So, I was feeding the Lord of the Betta Palace tonight, when I noticed what I first thought was a broken bit of plant stuck to the leaf of one of my Java ferns. On closer inspection, I realized it was a baby Java fern! Neat! :headbang2:

My question is this: it's only about a third of an inch in length right now. Is there some point at which I separate it, or will it naturally break off to free-float at some point?

 

[midiamin]

Ya got a long way to go before removing it. Roots have to develop etc.

 

[Bk718]

once its 2" you can remove it.. the older leaf most of the time develops more of these baby ferns.. and then becomes all fugly looking with bunch of holes.. you can cut it off and the rhizome will develop new leaves in no time

 

[Fishy_Fun]

LOL fugly...i have to agree with BK here

 

[msjinkzd]

yup, what they said. I usually leave mine on the parent leaf for as long as possible.

 

[TKOS]

I also leave them as long as possible. The bigger the baby is before you remove it, the easier it is to replant elsewhere. In one of my tanks I never remove the babies and I am watching as this crazy monster of a java fern grows with babies everywhere.