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FRANK you told me a long time ago and I forgot because I didn't have the cabomba any longer .

I now have cabomba and with what little co2 I do have, it's growing wonderfully, evein in my lighting conditions. All pieces have sprouted long roots from the stems.

One piece is getting near the time to trim. Do I trim from the top or the bottom. It seems to me, it was the latter. And, do I need to trim it above or below the last root shoot.

Can I split the long pieces? I was also given, for free, three short tips approximately 4 inches long. To my surprise they are doing excellent, also throwing off roots. I put them together on top of a cave where light was strongest since they were so short.



Last edited by Cory_Di at 06-Mar-2005 16:23

Hi,
I just "happened by" this evening and saw your post.
When I trim any of the stem plants, I simply let them
grow to the surface and then snip them in half. I then
plant the tops in groups of three, or sometimes
individually, depending upon the "look" I want to achieve.

Leave them sit, undisturbed for a week or two before doing
any vacuuming around them. That allows them to grow roots,
and begin to anchor themselves and grow. I have not tried
snipping them in 1/3s.
That particular plant likes lots of light (wpg) and by
planting it closer to the surface you have met that need.

If they get "leggy," roots sprouting from the middle
of the plant growing downward to the substrate, it indicates
that they need more light. I discourage that by removing
the mid-stem roots each week.

I know the tops and the bottoms will grow, but I'm not
sure of the middle section. Give it a try.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 07-Mar-2005 00:50

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Oh, you remove those roots from the mid section.

I was surprised today to see that my 3 short pieces atop the cave that is coated in a velvet algae, has rooted well into the algae bed . I didn't realize it would do that.

So, if I understand you right, I can keep both halves?

It does look nice in groups of threes. That's how i have those three extra short pieces I was given.

Hi Diane,
To help illustrate what I was talking about in several
past posts. I'll show you my current tank.
It is a 30G tank,
pH 6.5-6.7, KH 4, GH 3.
Two Compact flourscents (65 watts each @ 8800K)
Timers set for 10 hours on one bulb and 4 hours on the
second. Bulbs are replaced annually.
CO2 injection(bottled) at just over 1 bubble/second
100% flourite, aprox 3-4 inches thick with a UGF and
"A" powerhead.

Fish are 2 ottos (somewhere)
5 Black Skirt tetras
6 cherry barbs
1 flame tetra

Essentially, it is divided into four sections. Three
sections comprise the area across the back and
forward a little over half the width. The fourth section
is the front third and covers the entire length of the tank.

The Left side is planted with Star Grass, Rotala indica(?).
The middle with Limnophila indica, and the right
with Bacopa monnieri.
The Fourth section, right side contains
Cryptocoryne wendtii (red, and bronze var), the left
side contains several Calla palustris(?).

In each case of the stemmed plants, I initially obtained
"A" sprig roughly 3-6 inches long. I planted the sprig,
and when it grew to the surface, I snipped the stem roughly
in half and planted the top near the "parent" plant. Over
time, you can see what I have. Not much to look at as
an aquascape, but more of a "growing bed" for the stemed
plants. Over time some of the older plants become darker
green than the "youngsters" and in some cases "woody." A
tougher stalk, and loose their leaves toward the bottom.
When that occurs, I thin out the old timers, and plant the
new tops in their place and cycle them that way.

Hope this helps...

Frank

FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Yes, it does help.

Oh darn! Your picture didn't work

The left side....

FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

the center...

FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

the right side...

FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Wow! Thanks for the pics. Beautiful tank!

I recognize the rotala, the anubias and the cabomba. It looks like your cabomba is actually rooted??? I have mine just resting on the gravel. Should I stick an end under the gravel once it reveals a root?

Hi Diane,
I snip the stem in half and stuff the cut end into the
substrate. A week or two later, its rooted itself into
the substrate and made itself at home.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I just took my lone long stem, where a few leaves were falling off the bottom and stripped it about 3 inches up the stem. Just before reading your post, I stuffed it sideways under the gravel. It's just like planting tomatoes. We strip the lower leaves and then, lay the tomato plant sideways because roots grow from the stem. .

Thanks a bunch Frank. I would have doomed the cabomba to a life above the substrate if I hadn't seen your pics.

Hi,
This is the tank after an overhaul:

20 March.



FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

And this is the tank a week later:


FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Wow! Frank! Nice tank! I cant wait until my cabombas will grow like that

And finally, two weeks later:

FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hi,
This is todays' picture:



FRANK attached this image:


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--