Just ended up with a JAVA FERN!! HELP!

[ChicoRaton]

I grow my javas in 82F...and they grow like mad in my 55g.

ditto. Though with the cooler weather I've gotten my temp back down to 77-78. My room generally stays warmer than the rest of the house so combines with heat from my PC lighting, and an 80*F room temp, my temps were about 81-82.5 and my java fern established itself fine. I will see if it grows faster now in cooler temps.

 

[DanioSan]

Alright newbie questions for Java fern..how exactly does it reproduce itself? What do the "babies" look like? And Does it grow on any type of surface like an average backyard rock or porus surfaces like lava rock and drift wood?

 

[daveedka]

Alright newbie questions for Java fern..how exactly does it reproduce itself? What do the "babies" look like? And Does it grow on any type of surface like an average backyard rock or porus surfaces like lava rock and drift wood?

It will petty much grow on any surface it can find a way to cling too. so pourous rock and driftwood are great. things like pvc tubes may need a little extra caoxing, but once the roots get wrapped all the way around they will hold tightly.

As far as reprodcution, you can propogate new plants by separating the rhizome root , but most common is the babies. the babies will suddenly grow from the tips of older leaves, and from any damaged leaf on the plant. they just look like little tiny java ferns when they start, and grow slowly to become their own plant. A lot of people say to leave them until they get a little bigger and come off on their own. I usually remove them once they are big enough to staple to a new spot and then secure them to driftwood or rocks and let them grow. the roots always look fuzzy, and get pretty long. I think the roots add a definate jungle effect that is very desireable. when the babies grow they will get pretty good root masses going as well.
Dave

 

[chkltcow]

Alright newbie questions for Java fern..how exactly does it reproduce itself? What do the "babies" look like? And Does it grow on any type of surface like an average backyard rock or porus surfaces like lava rock and drift wood?

Look back on page 1 of this thread. I posted a picture of one of my ferns sprouting daughter plants from the leaves. Actually, every java fern I have right now is sprouting off daughters from the leaves!!

Basically, it starts as big black spores on the back of the leaves. After a few days, the'll get fuzzy, then you start seeing roots growing out. A week or so later, there are discernible leaves showing up.

 

[hcgirl80]

Oh, gee, I forgot to ask something. I don't know if it can be possible, but could I put my Java Fern on my heater? Its a submersible one and its really hard to hide.

~Paige

 

[ChicoRaton]

I wouldn't put it on the heater.

1) heaters get... hot. it would probably burn the roots.
2) it probably wouldn't "grip" the glass anyway.

 

[happychem]

and if it would grip the glass, you wouldn't want it to. To grip means to dig into, not something you want happenening to your heater. Just put the heater in the back and surround it with plants or ornaments so that it's obscured.