sword roots fell off

bluejay

AC Members
Jan 19, 2005
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I planted my melon sword too deep last week, burying where the stems splits off. Anyways today I was cleaning off some algea on the leaves and the plant came up, all the roots are gone. I've tied a lead weight on the main thick 'stem' and it is resting on the sand. Will the roots grow back so I can replant it? I see a little pearling from the 2 leaves on the plant. Thanks.
 
This happened to me as well and eventually they will grow back.
 
I've been told all my life that plants don't move, that they have roots and all that...

however this seems to suggest another possibility. you planted it to deep, possibly deep enough that it would have died if it had stayed that way... seems like an inteligent responce to loose the roots that held it in that position. with out the roots to hold it down the boyant leaves could carry it up and away, possibly to a better place to grow.

Just leave it like you have put it and it will grow roots again.
 
I was sent some Melon Swords from Indonesia with the roots burned off completely. I had a large shipment and I had to take itout for a 4 day delivery run so I placed them in an aquarium with about an 1/2 inch of water and some plant food and a small amount of circulation. I put the tank in a window that got plenty of sunlight. When I got back in 6 days!, the roots had completely grown back at least 2 inches. These were grown emersed so there was no leaf loss. They are very resilient under the proper circustances. I imagine, if you placed your swords in a covered tank with the same circumstances, it would happen again.

Good Luck
 
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tw - thanks, that's very comforting, I won't think about throwing it out anymore.
snake - interesting theory! I guess I got lucky by finding out.
midiamin - yea I heard that before the plants get to us they are grown out of water. I wish I can have another aquarium to grow plants emmersed, but I don't and it has to adapt to living under water anyways so I'll wait. Wow really 2" in 6 days, I don't see any new roots yet. maybe they grow much faster emmersed.
Andrew
 
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