Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: pollydoodle on October 21, 2018, 01:44:32 PM

Title: Java fern
Post by: pollydoodle on October 21, 2018, 01:44:32 PM

Just after my tank was up and running I bought a Java fern, I wasn't too impressed with what I had, but all the others looked the same.  There seems to be as many brown/dying leaves as there are green.  Is this normal for the fern or should I chuck it and get something elsewhere

Title: Re: Java fern
Post by: Matt on October 21, 2018, 02:50:11 PM

Are you getting any mini java ferns forming on the leaves? Take these off as soon as they appear as this will cause the main leaf to die back.

Java fern is not as easy a plant to grow as many believe... it needs decent amounts of light in my experience.

Title: Re: Java fern
Post by: pollydoodle on October 21, 2018, 03:37:39 PM

yes I am.  I took one off and put it on a piece of bogwood.  It's very small and even that is brown in places I think my best bet is to chuck it out and get something else.  Any idea what?  I'll try removing the mini growth first and see what happens
Thank you Matt

Title: Re: Java fern
Post by: uv on October 21, 2018, 08:35:11 PM

Is there a rule when we take off the baby plants from its main leaves?

I do have Java Fern, the tiny plants are growing since 2 weeks. Eventhough  I did not remove them the main leaves looks healthy. I leave aquarium light for 8 to 10 hours. I don't have special plant lights.

Title: Re: Java fern
Post by: Matt on October 25, 2018, 07:31:02 PM

Aquarium plants are not as fussy about the wavelength of light they receive as manufacturers make out! Java fern seems to like a lot and also to be higher in the water column where there is more light available and also more co2. This is just my experience of course...

I tend to get the baby plants off as soon as they become viable miniature plants... again just my tactic!!