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This question is hopefully an easier one. My vals are growing quite long and are actually floating across the surface of my tank. I want to trim them and I read that it's not good to just cut the leaves to the desired length. I read it is better to remove the entire leaf from the base of the plant allowing younger leaves to grow out. I'm finding this difficult because it's hard to see the base of my vals because they're obscured by other plants. Is this true about vals, or can I just cut the leaves to the desired length.

I have the spiral/twist val in my Betta tank. Some of the leaves grow up to 6ins a week (I use seachem liquid fert and tabs).
Now refering to a well kept lawn if it is well watered, fed, and cut correctly it will always be green and strong growing.
Val in my opinion is a form of grass each seperate plant has its own root system and spreads by throwing a new shoot via a thin yet strong cord (for a better word) at the end is a new val and the process continues. Saying all that val is not actually a grass but has growing like qualities/habits.

I asked the same question some time ago and many knowledge members suggest what I wanted to do could not be done. I had a choice let it grow like mad and cover the top of the tank extremly quick or cut it trimming from the bottom was no option as it is behind a long piece of DW and runs the length of the back of the tank it is in a strip about 2ins wide.

After several months the Val is growing stronger than ever and showing no signs of any dieback or any other problem.
It is very possible I have a very strong and healthy strain/variety of Spiral Val.

Now saying all that again it might not work with all vals, mine just seem to every thing they require, lighting, food and water quality.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Here are two photos I just took the Val was trimmed four days ago.
Betta tank 1 12 06
Keith

Attached Image:

Val in Betta tank 12-06

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

Second photo

Keith

Attached Image:

Val in Betta tank 12-06

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

I read the same thing about the trimming vals and have found that info correct. If I trim a leaf at the top, the rest would go brown in some days and rot. Due to this very reason, I'm really getting a lil annoyed of this plant. On average, a new runner appears every three days and leaves grow by around an inch a day