I was on here a couple of weeks ago with some problems with my new planted 29gal. Well, 2 weeks later, everything is great, even better than expected. Ammonia, Nitrites under control, and my plants are flouishing. To the point where I actuall have to start trimming. My cambomba plants have grown almost 4 inches in the 2 weeks, and is almost ready to stick out the top of the water surface. I need to start trimming, can I just cut off the top of the cambomba and replant the stem in the substrate? How does this work. I never thought I would be asking this so soon. I'll post some picks soon...
Plant trimming
- Thread starter NGerdes
- Start date
If you have a large enough group and don't want to propagate them, then trim this way: Pull the whole stem out of the gravel, then cut off the bottom 2 inches or so, throw out the bottom and replant the top, making sure that at least one node (where the leaves sprout from) is below the gravel. You should also remove the leaves from nodes that will be under the gravel.
If you want to propagate it and endup with more plants, then just cut off about 4-6 inches off the top and replant into the gravel, leaving the old stem in place. The old stem will branch out.
Don't just cut off the top and throw it out, leaving the bottom in place, because it will look ugly, and the bottoms will eventually yellow and die.
Good luck
Re: Re: Plant trimming
In the first one, you say to cut the top, replant and leave the bottom, then in the second one you say to not leave the bottom because it will yellow and die. I'm not sure which one it is?
In the first one, you say to cut the top, replant and leave the bottom, then in the second one you say to not leave the bottom because it will yellow and die. I'm not sure which one it is?
You can plant the top and leave the bottom if you want more plants. Eventually the bottoms get withered and may die, so when you are at the level you want bury the top and remove the bottom.
Cabomba propagation
Cabomba doesn't tend to branch alot like anacharis does, but it will put up new shoots from the roots. Cutting the top and replanting will leave a plant that has the ability to get nutrition, but no growth tips, so it's forced to produce a new one near the substrate.
At least my cabomba needs ALOT of light, or it'll sulk. Though I've seen a dark green morph that doesn't need as much as my light green cabomba. If it's growing well for you, you must be doing something right!
Cabomba doesn't tend to branch alot like anacharis does, but it will put up new shoots from the roots. Cutting the top and replanting will leave a plant that has the ability to get nutrition, but no growth tips, so it's forced to produce a new one near the substrate.
At least my cabomba needs ALOT of light, or it'll sulk. Though I've seen a dark green morph that doesn't need as much as my light green cabomba. If it's growing well for you, you must be doing something right!