Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tank Plant Advice => Topic started by: fcmf on June 02, 2024, 10:37:10 AM

Title: Propagating plants - where to cut?
Post by: fcmf on June 02, 2024, 10:37:10 AM
One for @Matt , probably, but happy for anyone to answer.

This is the only longstanding plant I've ever had - only the second to ever last beyond a few weeks. Purchased just before the start of CoVid reached the UK, it's now 4.25 years old which is a remarkable feat by my standards.  [Most of the stalks are getting thinner and thinner, though, so unfortunately its days are numbered.]

Ordinarily, when it gets too long, I cut it in half - above a node to see if any re-growth appears in the lower half (95% of the time it doesn't and the lower half dies) and then re-plant the upper half after cutting below a node.

On this occasion, for two parts of the plant, I cut the upper half off just below a node and re-planted it but forgot to cut close to the node on the lower half - and, on both occasions, tiny new leaves *are* starting to appear which is promising.  My questions are:
* have I been doing this incorrectly all along and this is what I should have done, and leave it be?
* ought I to trim back the ~1cm at the top so that I'm cutting down to just above the node and its newly sprouting leaves?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Propagating plants - where to cut?
Post by: Matt on June 08, 2024, 06:35:09 AM
Firstly sorry for the stupidly delayed response - very busy with work at the moment!
 You are right to cut just above a node as this is where the new growth will come from. You will also get two shoots growing from the node in nearly all instances. Most people would suggest cutting a node near the base of the plant in order that the two new shoots grow up from the base, and replanting the rest of the long stem you trimmed off. 
Title: Re: Propagating plants - where to cut?
Post by: fcmf on June 08, 2024, 06:56:21 AM
Thanks, @Matt - very helpful.  :cheers: