FishProfiles.com Message Forums

People say they are hard to keep/maintain?

Why is that?
When people say "Trimming" do they mean taking the plant out of the tank, putting it on a towel, getting the scissors & cutting the plant?

(hehe sorry if this sounds stupid)
-Thanx

Stem plants are generally not anymore difficult to grow then any other plant. They simply require a bit more labor to keep them looking their best then other plants.

Some stem plants are amongst the easiest to grow and some extremely difficult. This is why knowing what you're planting and what it's requirements are is a very important but often missed step.

Generally they amongst the fastest growers hence the extra labor keeping them in shape. Most non stem plants will only reach a certain given height and then stop growing upwards and will continue to grow thicker or outwards so require little work to keep them in shape appearance wise.

Because they are such fast growers they will be the first to show signs of a problem in a tank. This doesn't mean they're weaker , they're just showing the problems faster if the problem is not corrected the other plants will also succumb.

So really the only "difficulty" is in keeping them at the right height and the right shape. This means trimming, and as they are fast growers, most stem plants will reach the top of the average tank in a couple of weeks,the trimming has to be done quite often. If there's alot of these plants this can be a lot of work.

While it sounds easy trimming can cause a lot of problems for people. Some trim too hard , some not enough. Either way the bottom part will eventually begin to look ragged after a time so it constantly needs to be replaced with the fresh top, otherwise you can trim a plant down to nothing. Cutting about the top 2/3 and replanting the top and throwing out the bottom generally works (no paper towel needed). Don't worry about throwing out roots, the plant will be fine and will grow new ones. Surprisingly quite a few stem plants don't really need to be rooted in the substrate and can be kept in small pots or weighted down. This can be handy for building up an aquascape or ease of access for trimming and the plant can be taking out without always making a mess.

Personally I prefer to plant whatever variety I'm using heavily at the start and don't worry about propogating. Every couple of weeks I'll pull the lot up and cut off the bottom third. This ensures the plant always looks it's best and retains it's shape. I have stem plants that are still growing very strong after a year of this treatment. I usually do one variety today and another tomorrow etc. This only takes 10-15mins a day rather then doing it all over 2-3 hours at the weekend when I'd rather be sipping a cold beer somehwere.

Stem plants are no different to any other , give them what they need and they'll do fine.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

So, your saying that stem plants would be best for a big tank, cuz I have a 5 gal that looks rather empty towards the back & I was hoping to fill it up with some Camboda (sp?), the plant that has lots of little pointy thing coming off it...

Some stem plants are amongst the easiest to grow and some extremely difficult
Which ones would be easy?

Thanx

Last edited by dude_dude at 24-Jun-2005 22:28

Hmm....in such a small tank, you would want a small leaved plant, and I think I remember that you had about 2 wpg. If that's right then I think rotala indica might work for you. It would need to be in direct light, not shaded. I think 2wpg is borderline for this plant, but it seems to grow fine in my tank in 2wpg. It's tiny, but tall, and will turn red/pink if there is enough light.

I just got some bacopa and ludwigia repens for my tank, and these have leaves that are somewhat larger than the rotala, but might work for you as well. I'll let you know how they do for me.

Edit: Cabomba IME is not the easiest stem plant. It is really fragile and needs higher light than what I had to get it to look "thick".

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 24-Jun-2005 23:47

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I was hoping to fill it up with some Camboda (sp?)

I guess my message is not getting thru

Don't pick plants based only on the fact that you like the way they look. You should also know what they require and that you can meet those requirements.

Matty has given some sound advice.

5 gals is small - putting in a plant with big leaves or that is wide will only make it look smaller.Search and choose carefully.Then make sure you can meet the requirements of the chosen plants.

As to what plants are easy - well easy is relative. All are easy if you can meet the basic requirements of light and nutrients. To answer that question would need to know your set up, size, lights quantity and type etc.

Even an "easy" plant will suffer under 1/2 watt of incandescent lighting.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

dude_dude

The only thing I can add all plants are easy to grow providing you have done your homework and provide exactly what the plant requires.

The same goes with my Aust Native orchids I can grow them like weeds because I have the perfect conditions for then whereas many find them one of the most difficult orchids to grow.

In an aquarium there are many things to consider, plant type, water perameters, heating, lighting, and even the fish in the tank.

When you have a mixture of plants you must also be sure they all require the same conditions.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

hehe, bad news, before I read your new posts I went out & got myself a plant

Does anyone have any good plant I.D.ing sites?
It looks like camboda, but the guy told me a doff name, hehe, I hope it does allright

edit: I think its this. hmmm

Last edited by dude_dude at 25-Jun-2005 05:28

Bensaf is write they are no more dificult to maintain then your other plants just that are a little more demanding cause my elodia is never happy unless it gets its fortnightly rashens of fertilizer (although maybe its just because there's a shortage of nitrate cause i change the water twice a week!)
Declan
EDIT: hey bensaf you've got a point about them being the first to show signs of problems cause the elodia will start to sort of "die" cause their leaves start to turn pale and fall of so thats when i figure its time to add fertiliser

Last edited by victa_fish at 25-Jun-2005 02:08

Myriophillum looks similar to cabomba so it could be that, and this would be a better choice for you because it's a bit tougher and less demanding.

[link=http://www.tropica.com]http://www.tropica.com" style="COLOR: #FFFF00[/link] is a great site with pics and everything, it also has a search so you can find plants that might do better in your conditions.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

No, I dontthinks its Myriophyllum. Myriophyllum looks too fluffy. It looks like Limnophila sessiliflora, that might be it. I'll *try* to get some pics of my tank today

was this

doff

name ambulia if so it will live in 2wpg quite well.

---

''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

*blush* I ment diff

It seems to be doing well, still need to get those pics.