Stem Plant Maintenance.

Does anyone else have issues with stem plants defoliating at the base and if they do, how do they deal with it?

A lot of my stem plants like hygrophila defoliate at about the bottom 3rd, leaving a bare stem. Not an issue at the back so much but as I also grow them round the sides of the tank, it means in the side viewing panes you see mainly green stem and no leaf, which isn't very attractive. The top growth is very healthy.

My 200l has quite high nitrates, contains a 3-4ppm phosphates from the tap. I use liquid carbon every day and iron supplements once a week.

I tend to plant them in bunches of 4-5 stems just because it's easier. I cut the overgrowth off and replant it round the bare stems but it's starting to look messy.

I cheat.

Where a new root grows part way up the stem, I cut just beneath the root and pull up the remaining bare stem and plant the new root.

Thank you folks, great advice.