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	Trimming Crypt Retrospiralis
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Gang, I have this beautiful Crypt Retrospiralis in my tank and it is beginning to cause a little problem. The leaves are now maybe 30" long and overshadow the plants next to it, in particular my Narrow Leaf Ludwigia is suffering from the lack of light. Did anyone ever attempt to trim this plant? And if so, then how would it be done? Thanks in advance, Ingo *Attached Image:* 125G - See Crypt in left center Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 27-Jan-2006 03:47
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	You can't really trim it, as in reducing the height. You can thin it out or propagate it by uprooting and keeping the best plantlets. You can cut off the biggest leaves in their entirety. Trying to trim just the top portion of the leaf will usually result in the entire kleaf dying. Retro is one of those plants that will grow smaller if shaded. When you have the wood in you may want to move the Repens anyway. 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.
Posted 27-Jan-2006 11:03
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	When you have the wood in you may want to move the Repens anyway Yeah, that plant and pretty much the rest of the plants as well Thanks Bensaf - your advice was pretty close to what I thought I will have to do. Without having had a chance to look at the Crypts root system in a while I think it might be pretty hard to separate out the joungsters. I remember that when I got the plant it was called a "plug" - meaning quite a few roots that are all tangled up. We will see. Thanks again, Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 27-Jan-2006 11:45
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	Ingo, I had a similar problem with c. balansae in my 46G bow. The plant had grown to the surface then across the surface then down the front of the tank! Not knowing any better, I weed whacked it. Trimmed it so that in formed a solid line about three inches below the water surface. It was ugly as sin. Crypt meltdown was minimal, the plants sent up new shoots that made the stems thicker. I had the same problem in 2 months... Blessed are the ignorant? __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 28-Jan-2006 22:55
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Edited by LITTLE_FISH That's funny Bob, a haircut Well, I am glad I asked first as it is very likely that I might have done the same. I will try to separate the Crypt when I am doing my big overhaul (aka adding the wood) to the tank. Thanks for sharing, Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 29-Jan-2006 00:43
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	If you ship some glosso to Wings, toss some retro into the bag for me... __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 31-Jan-2006 08:20
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Bob, That will take quite a while as I disposed of almost my entire lawn of Glosso . It grew too dense and killed itself, my mistake. You can read about some details on the last 4 pages of my 125G log (as of right now). Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 31-Jan-2006 12:20


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