growing Java Fern

[gatica17]

I have a 1,100 gallon "tropical fish pond" on my back porch in Costa Rica. All of my plants are doing great, except my Java Fern. My Ph is 7.2. I have river silt areas, wood areas and rock areas. I have the Java Fern in all of these areas, but they just barely exist. I would appreciate any help on making them happy so that they will multiply. I had to sneak my starts into the country.

 

[ScotJudd]

Hi. Have you planted the fern, because they don't like the main stem planted. They do best tied onto rock or bog wood with fishing line (almost invisible under water). I let any small plantlets drift around and find their own place to live. Usually the water flow traps them against another plant or rock and they put down roots.


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[gatica17]

Java Fern

All of my plants are tied with line to either wood or rock. All of the plants are atlest 3" above the silt bed. I have yet to have them produce any plantlets.

 

[ScotJudd]

Hi. I initially planted my Java Fern and the leaves all died. However, plantlets grew from the tips of the dying leaves. These I either tied to rock etc or just let them drift. Maybe you could try just planting one of your ferns to see if this happens to yours.


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[ktomminello]

Hi. I initially planted my Java Fern and the leaves all died. However, plantlets grew from the tips of the dying leaves. These I either tied to rock etc or just let them drift. Maybe you could try just planting one of your ferns to see if this happens to yours.


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This worked for me as well in my 65g hex. I then found that if I took a leaf that looked like it was dying but growing leaves on the end and I covered the edges of the leaf with the roots of the plantlets just above the substrate I got a beautiful row of ferns across the back wall. Hope this helps

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[FishCr8zy]

Java fern multiplies only by having sprouts growing on the ends of the old/dying leaves.
Has the plant grown any bit? If not it could be lacking nutrients. Do you have any fish or livestock in the pond?

 

[gatica17]

Java Fern

I have a large assortment of small tropical fish in my "tank". The tank was set up in April, 2013. I am using fertilizer tabs and the rest of the plants are healthy and thriving. One suggestion was for me to add potassium sulfate. I need to be sure that it will not harm my fish before I do so. I also just moved some of the plants to partially under my Java moss which is very healthy.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ktomminello]

There are plenty of aquatic fertilizers on the market made specifically for home aquarium. I love the seachem and aquavitro lines, both of which have excellent dosing details. How recently was the last time you added tablet ferts?

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