Questions about fern attaching to drift wood.

[Taiken5968]

Have what I have been told is a Bolbitis fern. I have tried to get it to attach to a price of drift wood using fishing line.

After 5 months it didn't attach to the wood. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to use a rubber bans to hold its roots against the drift wood to help it attach. I have done this. I also scratched grooves into the wood with a knife, to give it some texture to hold on to.

Any other suggestions, on how to display this plant are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[Rokuzachi]

I love bolbitis!

Took mine forever to attach as well. It also took quite a while to get growing. I found sort of a notch in the wood and used fishing line to anchor it in. It was about 14" beneath a T5HO with routine ferts, but it was a very stubborn plant. After ~6-8 months it suddenly exploded with new growth and tripled in size. Something must have suddenly gone right with my water chemisty. That's about the time that I noticed it wasn't wobbling around when I was disturbing it.

 

[Taiken5968]

I love bolbitis! Took mine forever to attach as well. It also took quite a while to get growing. I found sort of a notch in the wood and used fishing line to anchor it in. It was about 14" beneath a T5HO with routine ferts, but it was a very stubborn plant. After ~6-8 months it suddenly exploded with new growth and tripled in size. Something must have suddenly gone right with my water chemisty. That's about the time that I noticed it wasn't wobbling around when I was disturbing it.

I hope mine will attach. It's a nice looking plant. I also hope the rubber bands don't harm my water quality.

 

[Taiken5968]

I hope the rubber bands work.

 

[Taiken5968]

I love bolbitis!



Took mine forever to attach as well. It also took quite a while to get growing. I found sort of a notch in the wood and used fishing line to anchor it in. It was about 14" beneath a T5HO with routine ferts, but it was a very stubborn plant. After ~6-8 months it suddenly exploded with new growth and tripled in size. Something must have suddenly gone right with my water chemisty. That's about the time that I noticed it wasn't wobbling around when I was disturbing it.

It didn't attach after about 3 months. Any other ideas? haha

 

[Alan79]

It didn't attach after about 3 months. Any other ideas? haha

You could drill a small hole through the wood and poke some roots through so it can reach substrate and nutrients. Is it a heavy root feeder?. Never had Bolbitis but it could work if it is struggling to find nutrients from the water. I've had elastic bands on some Anubias for a while. One might hold on but the second one wobbles drunkenly still. I'll give them both more time.

 

[Brookster123]

Get some brown zip ties? Those rubber bands will probably break down over time..

 

[Tbox]

I'm not sure how long your root growth is, but, I like Alan's idea. Use an 1/8inch drill bit or so. Drill one or two holes clean through, just above the substrate surface, and feed the roots through with a tender touch.