Ozzlot Sword

[presto]

My Ozzlot sword over the last couple weeks grown 3 large shoots that are 4 feet long each and have about 5 smaller plants growing on each of them. (they are popping out of the tank at this point)

I have noticed that my main plant is having some issues now with the leaves thinning out and it looking poor overall. The smaller plants on the shoots look healthy though and are getting big(hand size). There is a little algae growing on the edges of the small plantlets too(Hair algae).

Should I remove the smaller plants?

Is there a certain size I should grow them out to?

Any ideas on recovering the main plant?

Thanks

[fischkopp]

Swords prefer root uptake of nutrients, so some root tabs might help to give that big plant a boost.

[zima]

You can remove the smaller plants any time, as long as they have an adequate root system and you think they'll make it if planted on their own. Make sure they have enough space to grow and get enough light (same goes for the mother plant).

What kind of setup are you running? Is there enough CO2 dissolved in your water? The hair algae might be an indication of inadequate levels or a lack of CO2... Also, depending on the richfullness of your substrate, fischkopp's advice is very appropriate - sword plants do thrive in rich substrate or with root tabs in the substrate.

[Consigliere]

Agree with all of above comments.  Another cause potentially for the stunted growth or total lack of growth/recovery of the the mother plant is the plantlets are too large for the mother plant to support now. 

I would suggest removing them immediately and replant them if you want to keep them or sell them or whatever.

At hand size they will soon be mother plants of their own.  I tried removing Amazon sword plantlets at about pinky size and this didn't work out too well.