Java Fern craziness

[magnosis]

I installed a Java Fern in my new tank 2 weeks ago.  I tied the roots to a piece of driftwood (root) using cotton thread; what I didn't think of is that this wood floats, and once I filled in with water, it lifted up about 1" from the gravel.  So now the fern's roots are pretty much dangling in mid-water but attached to this branch.

I don't really mind.

What's weird is that within a few days, a bunch of smaller leaves started to grow from one of the fern leaf itself.  I have fern leaves growing from fern leaves.

It's as if the leaf had decided it wanted a new life as a root. Crazy ! Check it out:




Should I burry this leaf (2 of them actually) not too deep under flourite gravel, and let the fresh leaves grow up ?  I was told they prefer growing on wood and not be burried.

Should I just cut the tip off and use it as a new sprout somewhere else in the tank ?


What do you suggest I do about this plant craziness ?

[mkowals2]

You shouldn't have to cut any of them off. If you want to propagate the plants you can just pluck the plantlets off the leaves with your figers and plant them somewhere else, or tie them to something. You are correct though, it is best not to bury the rhizome in the substrate as it will likely rot and the plant will die.

You also have the option of letting them get larger while still attached to the leaves. They will eventually detach themselves and float around until they catch on something and grow there. If you choose to pick them off before this happens, you should probably wait until they grow three or four leaves first. I tried pulling mine off when they first started sprouting a leaf or two, and most of the plantlets curled up and died This is just from my personal experience, however. I don't know when the best time is to pick them off...

HTH

-Mike

[pminister]

Like mkowals2 said. Just let it be until it detaches its self, or you get at least 3-4 leaves then pluck it off. I had the same issue where, if i removed it early it started to curl alot more plus it stays dwarf size.

But on the whole great plant...just love it.

[magnosis]

OK Thanks for the tips.

Just to clarify, I haven't cut off anything just yet.

Do you have advice on how/where to plant the fern so it doesn't uprooted by my goldfish ?  The root system isn't developing much at the base, and it's now only hanging down by the cotton thread which is wearing out pretty fast.  For now I'll just be patient and see comes of it.

[pminister]

Best way to tied down Java Fern is, either tie it to a rock/ pebble or to a driftwood by enough cotton thread. But not to tight that it dames the Rhizome. But I have Java fern in my Goldfish tank, where i simply buried it enough where the Rhizome is still above gravel wihtout having to tied it.

And it has been there since. Though the Goldfish have never uprooted it. I mean they will nibble at it for food if they have been fed. Other then that they will leave it as is.

[cichlidicted]

i was told that the best wat to tie these plants is elastic ... see java ferns will eventually hold itself onto the object ... i havnt tried cotton thread, but i did try fishing lines and it wasnt so good... the thing about elastic is that it will get weaker and will just cut-off by itself, and by the time that happens you would have the java held onto the driftwood or rock..

and for the new leaves, i leave them till they grow a bit more .. and then plant them at the very front of the aquarium where i can see them grow....

enjoy

[sas]

I personally would stay away from using elastic bands.
When I first started out I was told to use them also but have had fish
actually eat them and pass them out the other end. Stressful time for me
and I can only imagine even more stressful for the fish.
Use cotton thread or fishing line.

Edit, Removed all the smilies, sorry about that folks, must have hit too many buttons.

[magnosis]

I watched a ton of step-by-step aquascaping videos before I started my tank;  cotton tread is what all the experts seem to be using.

Unlike fishing line & elastic, it's 100% natural and will completely dissolve itself over a period of time.


The thing with my fern is, they *don't* have a rhizome.  Just 4 leaves with tiny wheenie roots.  Looks like 2 of the leaves are now acting as rhizomes hence all the little sprouts and roots growing from them.

Now that my tank is on its last mile of cycling, it will soon be 80% emptied and refilled with fresh water.  It will be a good time to re-arrange them.

[pminister]

Now that my tank is on its last mile of cycling, it will soon be 80% emptied and refilled with fresh water.  It will be a good time to re-arrange them.

Ummm ! 80% WC (ie. WC - water change) is alot, and could possibly restart the cycling process all over again. But if you know how the "Nitrogen Cycle" works, and if you are testing you water parameters the most you need to at this point only would be 40-50% as a last resort.

[magnosis]

Noted.
Thanks for heads-up