Good Plants

H. polysperma is a great nitrate eater. Well worth its space in the tank.

Hi
It gives off roots from the sides and looks to me like it wants to be pinned down in the substrate and to grow along instead of up , if that makes sense ?
Ally

You can propagate that way or cut off and replant the rooted pieces.

Im going to try this at the weekend Fiona, the bottom half of the stems that have reached the surface are bare of leaves, moat likely due to lack of light as the leavez about e have poached it.

Will the bare stems regrow leaves once they get some better light after I've done the pruning? I love this plant and would love to have a nice lush forest of the stuff 

I've had this plant since setting up my first aquarium. It is pretty indestructible, but gets a bit leggy in low light. I found the best way to maintain it is to cut the stem about an inch above the substrate, then trim the bottom of the loose stem so that the top part is the length you want (I usually left it about 2/3 the height of the tank). Pop the base of this stem in the substrate and leave it grow. Side shoots form from the original stem and replanted stem will take root and grow like the clappers. No ugly trimmed tops or leafless stems!

Looks like I'll be giving that a go on the weekend too.