Java Fern is floating! - Aquarium Advice

middlechild · 07-05-2008, 06:28 PM

I thought plants would be heavier than water, also there does not appear to be a root ball on the Java Fern from the lfs. Its about the size of a tennis ball. Do you have to anchor this plant to something for it to get established? Should I put it in water to root (lol!) Like driftwood and fishing line to tie it down near the base of the tank?

The zebra danios are starting to pick at it! 10G, and levels monitored daily.

SpeedEuphoria · 07-05-2008, 07:05 PM

You will need to tie it down or weight it down w/ something. Attaching it to driftwood is a good idea, or I've even kinda buried it in my gravel to hold it down. Thread works to tie it.

It depends on where you want it to go or how it fits in.

**Purrbox** · 07-05-2008, 08:24 PM

Most plants will float unless they are planted in the substrate or tied to a rock or driftwood.

tamra&steven · 07-06-2008, 02:15 AM

tieing it to the drift wood always looks cool.

middlechild · 07-07-2008, 08:39 PM

Ok, I have tied the ball of fern down with dental floss, tying it to a bubbler thingy that had very small holes near the base. Next question then becomes how does the fern grow, will it eventually sprout roots as the piece I have looks like a cutting off a branch. Wasn't sure which end is up, so just tied the string around the middle. The fern is suspended an inch or two off the bottom, it just appears over the bubbly thingy.

Thanks for the help

**Purrbox** · 07-07-2008, 08:56 PM

If you've just got a bunch of unconnected leaves of Java Fern there's not much hope of you getting a plant out of the deal. Baby plants will sprout leaves, but a mature leaf removed from the main plant is unlikely to do the same.

Stem plants on the other hand will sprout new roots right below each spot where leaves meet the main stem. Also mosses will attach to things, but don't have roots. They just sort of spread.

JohnPaul · 07-07-2008, 08:57 PM

Usually at the base of the fern there will be a rhizome (something that looks more of a brownish color, with perhaps small root-like things emerging from it). THAT is the part that you need to tie down so that it is attached to the rock or driftwood or whatever.

I don't think you can simply tie part of the stem to a surface and expect it to adhere.

FishEggs · 07-07-2008, 09:31 PM

I'm thinking that what Middlechild actually has is java MOSS in which case it doesn't really matter which way it is tied down.

JohnPaul · 07-08-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishEggs

I'm thinking that what Middlechild actually has is java MOSS in which case it doesn't really matter which way it is tied down.

Ahh, well if that is the case then yes, any part of it will eventually attach.

middlechild · 07-08-2008, 11:40 PM

The ball has leaves, so Java moss is not likely. That was what I was looking for, Java Moss, yet the lfs only had this one last, lonely, Java Fern. The root ball appears to be either so small to non-existent, or not there at all. Its in the tank, to be monitored. If roots show up then I will reattach closer to something for the roots to grab onto.

07-05-2008, 06:28 PM	#1
middlechild Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NH, USA Posts: 43	Java Fern is floating! I thought plants would be heavier than water, also there does not appear to be a root ball on the Java Fern from the lfs. Its about the size of a tennis ball. Do you have to anchor this plant to something for it to get established? Should I put it in water to root (lol!) Like driftwood and fishing line to tie it down near the base of the tank? The zebra danios are starting to pick at it! 10G, and levels monitored daily.

07-05-2008, 08:24 PM	#3
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 4,896	Most plants will float unless they are planted in the substrate or tied to a rock or driftwood. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

07-06-2008, 02:15 AM	#4
tamra&steven Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 160	tieing it to the drift wood always looks cool. __________________ 60 ga. SPS tank w/ 2 - 175w 20k halides, korallin 1502 calcium reactor w/ph contorler 24ga. SW nano w/150 HQI 180ga. FW aggresive fish 125ga. FW w/60ga. sump. VERY aggresive fish

07-07-2008, 08:56 PM	#6
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 4,896	If you've just got a bunch of unconnected leaves of Java Fern there's not much hope of you getting a plant out of the deal. Baby plants will sprout leaves, but a mature leaf removed from the main plant is unlikely to do the same. Stem plants on the other hand will sprout new roots right below each spot where leaves meet the main stem. Also mosses will attach to things, but don't have roots. They just sort of spread. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

07-07-2008, 09:31 PM	#8
FishEggs Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Highland, Maryland Posts: 356	I'm thinking that what Middlechild actually has is java MOSS in which case it doesn't really matter which way it is tied down. __________________ ~Matt~ If you put off what you can do today until tomorrow it will never get done cause tomorrow never comes. It's always today.

07-07-2008, 08:39 PM	#5
middlechild Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NH, USA Posts: 43	Ok, I have tied the ball of fern down with dental floss, tying it to a bubbler thingy that had very small holes near the base. Next question then becomes how does the fern grow, will it eventually sprout roots as the piece I have looks like a cutting off a branch. Wasn't sure which end is up, so just tied the string around the middle. The fern is suspended an inch or two off the bottom, it just appears over the bubbly thingy. Thanks for the help

07-07-2008, 08:57 PM	#7
JohnPaul Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 593	Usually at the base of the fern there will be a rhizome (something that looks more of a brownish color, with perhaps small root-like things emerging from it). THAT is the part that you need to tie down so that it is attached to the rock or driftwood or whatever. I don't think you can simply tie part of the stem to a surface and expect it to adhere.

07-08-2008, 11:40 PM	#10
middlechild Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NH, USA Posts: 43	The ball has leaves, so Java moss is not likely. That was what I was looking for, Java Moss, yet the lfs only had this one last, lonely, Java Fern. The root ball appears to be either so small to non-existent, or not there at all. Its in the tank, to be monitored. If roots show up then I will reattach closer to something for the roots to grab onto.

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