Another question about swords

[Simpte]

Most swords will fill a 20 gallon high if left unkept. You can always prune Root tabs are not necessary as its easier for plants to draw from the water column than from the substrate; wee let me clarify that. It requires less energy to draw directly into the leaf than to transplant nutrients throughout the plant and some nutrients, calcium and iron for example, are immoblie anyway and must be taken directly into the plant leaf. I'm curious as to why your H. polysperma isn't as thick as you want it. Are you pruning it at least weekly? Cutting it back to just a little over half height will cause it (and most plants) to grow in thicker.

[Xzap]

I pruned out a lot of the sunset last night & did cut some back to 1/2 height. I think this is my problem, not pruning it right.

Thx,

Dave

[travis simonson]

Dave, of the three swords I mentioned, the E. rubin will get by far the largest - over 30" under the right conditions. The E. x barthii and E. "Kleiner Bar" are only about half the size of the E. rubin, growing to a max of 15-18". My E. x barthii did not get very large and had a great reddish-purple color with yellow venation. A very pretty plant.

And I'm with Simpte on the H. polysperma, pruning it will definitely cause it get bushy. Just make sure you've got enough light to penetrate into the jungle you create or the base of the stems can rot and leaves will die off or turn yellow. All in all a fairly undemanding plant though

[Xzap]

Thanks Travis Tonight I moved some jungle vals to the back; I think I'll let the vals be a brackground with H. polysperma lower and thicker in front of it. I love valis, I think it's an often over looked plant.

I think I'm gonna throw out all my red temple and just get a new batch; BBA has taken them over. [acronym:eecde8c188="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:eecde8c188], I watched a BN pleco eat a patch of BBA clean off a rock last week !

Thx,

Dave