Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: pollydoodle on September 08, 2018, 04:41:53 PM

Title: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: pollydoodle on September 08, 2018, 04:41:53 PM
I have an unusual growth around  some of the roots of my live plants.  It looks like a beige sponge   ::)  Does anyone have any idea as to what it might be and what should I do about it
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: Sue on September 08, 2018, 04:46:32 PM
Silly question - did you remove all the stuff round the roots when you bought the plants (assuming they came with the roots wrapped in something that looks a bit like fibreglass). Other than that I'm afraid I have no idea  :(
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: fcmf on September 08, 2018, 05:14:14 PM
That sounds like what the plant comes in when in a little pot. In that case, rinse it under the tap and clumps will start to come away, but only let so much come away that it won't adversely affect the roots. What's left will eventually disintegrate / come away over time.
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: pollydoodle on September 09, 2018, 02:14:06 PM
This has grown since I bought the plants, one is growing on a piece of wood, bought from a shop.  the others were from ebay with bare roots and I planted them in a weighted ring.  I would presume its some sort of algae.
I have just pulled it off, but wondered what it was
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: Littlefish on September 09, 2018, 06:47:44 PM
If it happens again could you post some pics of it?
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: pollydoodle on September 09, 2018, 07:23:25 PM
Will do, it's happening again
at the moment but not clear enough to take a pic - yet!
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: uv on October 12, 2018, 08:52:07 AM
Interesting, Should I remove the packing around the roots (thin foam and weight) when it was purchased? I understand my lfs said to leave everything there...
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: Sue on October 12, 2018, 09:12:45 AM
Never believe anything a shop says.
Plants should be rooted in the substrate except for those species that are grown on decor. They should be taken out of the basket and everything removed carefully from round the roots. If the roots are in filter wool like stuff, carefully pick off as much of that as possible. I find it easiest to put the plants in a bucket of water and use a pin to remove the fragments.
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: uv on October 12, 2018, 09:22:51 AM
Never believe anything a shop says.
Plants should be rooted in the substrate except for those species that are grown on decor. They should be taken out of the basket and everything removed carefully from round the roots. If the roots are in filter wool like stuff, carefully pick off as much of that as possible. I find it easiest to put the plants in a bucket of water and use a pin to remove the fragments.

I got Java Fern like this. I will remove the wool part as much possible. Thank you
Title: Re: Strange growth on live plants
Post by: Sue on October 12, 2018, 09:34:54 AM
Java fern is one of the plants that should be attached to decor so it looks a mess if you don't remove all the attached bits. I should really say that Java fern is usually grown attached to decor because if the thick 'root' - actually a rhizome - is planted, it rots. The thin hair like roots are OK planted but the rhizome must be above the substrate.