Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: Ally2 on September 04, 2016, 03:03:52 PM
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Hi
Just wanted to tell you about a plant I bought from Aqua essentials . It's called Hygrophila polysperma . It likes temps of 15-24 c it's soft and small leaves but it grows like mad ! Doesn't need co2 .
Ally
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H. polysperma is a great nitrate eater. Well worth its space in the tank.
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I love this stuff... it has grown the full height of my tank and has already re-sprouted from the roots to about quarter height... Awesome stuff 8)
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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
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You can propagate that way or cut off and replant the rooted pieces.
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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 :D
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I've never managed to grow it without eventually getting bare stems at the base, doesn't mean it's not possible though. Every now and them I just cut them off, trim them down and replant them, I know Simon (ExtremeOne) does the same as he has the same issue.
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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!
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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!
This is exactly what I'm going to do, many thanks for the tips 8)
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Looks like I'll be giving that a go on the weekend too. :)