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	Water Sprite
luvmykrib Fish Addict Posts: 585 Kudos: 256 Votes: 27 Registered: 08-Nov-2005	How do you keep water sprite from turning into a huge floater? Should I just give up on this plant or is there a trick to it? I don't mind the smaller floaters but the larger plants just won't stay in the gravel. Could it be because my gravel is too big? I will be changing it to a smaller natural gravel this spring. I wanted wisteria but I find it is not available here at all or not often, I also suspect it requires more light than my tank has. Can anyone suggest anything? "If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything." -Family Circus
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	luvmykrib, I would say by sticking at least 3 inches in a 45 degree angle into the gravel you should be able to keep it down. Or does it sit in some major current? Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
luvmykrib Fish Addict Posts: 585 Kudos: 256 Votes: 27 Registered: 08-Nov-2005	It is not in a major current since I moved it the other day. It was a floater for a long time and developed a huge leaf and root system, will I need to trim it before I bury it at the 45 degree angle? "If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything." -Family Circus
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	luvmykrib, I am not so sure about this, but I would say: If the roots are at the end of the stem then I would say you should not trim them. I would assume that they actually will help you anchoring the stem as they will get tangled up in the substrate. Try to get the roots on the bottom as deep into the gravel as possibel and not bunshed up against the stem. Nevertheless, there is a chance that these roots will not be efficient for the plant in the substrate (as they are used to suck nutrients from the water column. Then the plant will develop new roots. Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
luvmykrib Fish Addict Posts: 585 Kudos: 256 Votes: 27 Registered: 08-Nov-2005	It's quite neat to watch the plant change from a stem plant with a long stem and leaves along the stem, roots at the bottom to a floater with no stem just leaves coming out from the roots. When I asked if I needed to trim it I meant the leaves as well although there is no stem to trim the leaves off of. Maybe I will try planting them the way you suggested and lay a large rock over the roots part of the gravel. Last edited by luvmykrib at 11-Jan-2006 21:07 "If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything." -Family Circus
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	These floating plantlets usually form on the plant leaves. The only way to control it is to cut off these planlets as soon as they appear. Leaving them there encourages the plant to break up and float. 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 26-Jan-2006 11:43


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