Your not supposed to keep the rubber band on. You have to separate it so the stems are not crushed and so the lower leaves can get more light.
A helpful tip:
I propagate my rotala( a similar stem plant) by cutting the stem a couple inches up from the gravel and then stripping the lower leaves on the stem and replanting that. A few new shoots come from the part that I left in the gravel. Then when the replanted shoot gets too tall I do the same thing. This is a fast and easy way to get a nice forest/bush effect going on. This way it fills out and looks thick.
Info on Bacopa/Moneywort
http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_monnieri.php
This site has user experiences below the plant info. If you look at the last response you will see what I am talking about with the rubber band and planting too close. This person thinks that there is something wrong with the plant when it is actually the way he planted it that made it die off.
A helpful tip:
I propagate my rotala( a similar stem plant) by cutting the stem a couple inches up from the gravel and then stripping the lower leaves on the stem and replanting that. A few new shoots come from the part that I left in the gravel. Then when the replanted shoot gets too tall I do the same thing. This is a fast and easy way to get a nice forest/bush effect going on. This way it fills out and looks thick.
Info on Bacopa/Moneywort
http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_monnieri.php
This site has user experiences below the plant info. If you look at the last response you will see what I am talking about with the rubber band and planting too close. This person thinks that there is something wrong with the plant when it is actually the way he planted it that made it die off.