java fern Q and aponogeton Q *pics*

[Meredith]

Question 1. I had a bunch of java fern leaves with baby plants all over that I was "storing" in my betta tank. Well the parent leaves started to look really gross, so I took off all the baby plants. Was this a mistake? I would say 98% of them have roots. What can I do with these little guys? Can I leave them in a container to grow them out or do they need tropical conditions?


Question 2. I put one aponogeton bulb in the betta tank and it looks great. It shot off a long stem that I was expecting to be a flower, but it grew leaves instead and now it has roots too. It is still attached to the big plant, but do I need to bury the roots or just let it float at the top like its doing?


This is basically the same pic but max decided to come check things out

 

[Toirtis]

1. I would give them warm conditions, but they are easy to grow out.

2. The Aponogeton will do best planted...in fact, I believe they do poorly floating at the best of times.

 

[Meredith]

So do I cut the stem from the big plant and bury the roots, or do I leave it attached?

 

[hashbaz]

After the baby plant grows more roots, I suggest you snip it off and plant it. I didn't know aponogetons did this!

 

[Toirtis]

So do I cut the stem from the big plant and bury the roots, or do I leave it attached?

Cut and bury, but give it a couple of more weeks' growth first.

 

[Meredith]

I didn't know aponogetons did this!

Neither did I. I have had several of them flower but not this weird thing.
I will try planting in a few weeks. Thanks

 

[Jchillin]

With the ferns, it is best to wait until the plantlet (baby plants), have at least 5-6 leaves before pulling it off and re-attaching to some rocks or driftwood.

I just did the same with mine...I had 4 of them which are now on their own.

 

[krap101]

alot of mine fell off so i had to put them into a breeder trap so they dont get caught in the filter

 

[BillD]

There is only one species of aponogetan that grows plantlets rather than flowers, and you have it. I can't remember the species name.