Sword plant question

WinterWind

Mad pianist
Feb 11, 2005
957
0
0
I have a sword plant that looks like it is actually a few smaller ones clumped together. When I first got it, it was one biggish one, but now 2 years later, it is like a few smaller ones together. It's not sending off runners though. Can I just break it at the crown into smaller ones? Will that promote the growth of the plant? Or will that kill the plant?

Thanks.
 
Difficult to advise without seeing the plant, but if it has multiple crowns and each has a viable root system, yes they can be gently divided.
Most swords throw stalks out of the center of the crown, from which plantlets sprout and develop over time. Usually this occurs in mature plants that have been established in the tank for a while.

Len
 
Mine seem pretty mature, but yet it doesn't send out sprouting plants...

Does it need some nutrient?
 
Give some more info. on the tanks parameters. Fish load. Lighting, etc.
Do you have test kits and if so, what are your water's parameters?
How do the sword(s) look? Nice color and growth?
More info. please.

Len
 
Well, I don't have testing kits, so I can't say much about the water parameters.

But the plant is in a 10 gallon with a 28 watt flourescent 6700k light.

3 white clouds, 1 betta, 4 corries.

No CO2 added, but I use plantgro liquid fertilizers and plant tabs.
 
i got some amazon sword plants that spouted and blossomed baby plants(cant find the word) so i just sniped them off and planted each of the baby plants, but keepted the smaller plants that didnt grow roots yet in place of the orginal large plants, and the ones i planted are doing fine.
 
If you can't find a "runner" between them it's probably all one plant and will die if you break the crown. In my experience Swords usually send out a runner with the babies along it(the runner can be cut with no problems). If they got big enough I suppose they'd grow together over time, but if they don't come apart easily I wouldn't suggest doing any cutting or breaking unless you can deal with it if it dies. Hope this helps, I've noticed this post has been here awhile.
 
Thanks for the help.

I don't think I will seperate the sword plant, since it is not a runner.

I still don't know why the darn plant won't send out runners, even though I've had it for years.
 
AquariaCentral.com