CPryor
Aquarium Advice Activist
A cautionary tale:
So, I bought a Top Fin "Tropical Fern" (I think it was called that...could be wrong) after inspecting it and seeing it was a java fern. The tube said it contained 2-4 plants. I got it home and there was only one plant - I thought, "well, I'll live with that, no need to waste gas and return it".
A few weeks later, it begins to bud from the leaf tips - cool, so it IS a java....but, why was it looking like it was struggling? Weeeeell, I lift it out and realize something important that I'd missed.... no rhizome. Thats strange....so I began poking and prodding at it...and knock loose a thread. I pull it, and as it unravels, I realize that what my brain registered as a root ball is actually a bundle of black thread holding together four leaves. JUST. LEAVES.
Seriously? Do java ferns root from leaves? As far as I know, they put out new bud plants; which means I'll have to let the leaves float, rot into my tank, re-plant the wee little plants, and wait for them to get up to three or so inches JUST TO GET THE PRODUCT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Needless to say, i'll be contacting corporate - with all the negativity they already get for selling non-aquatics mislabeled, I'm sure they wont care....but buyer beware! If you buy one, keep the receipt and inspect the plant thoroughly before committing to keeping it.
So, I bought a Top Fin "Tropical Fern" (I think it was called that...could be wrong) after inspecting it and seeing it was a java fern. The tube said it contained 2-4 plants. I got it home and there was only one plant - I thought, "well, I'll live with that, no need to waste gas and return it".
A few weeks later, it begins to bud from the leaf tips - cool, so it IS a java....but, why was it looking like it was struggling? Weeeeell, I lift it out and realize something important that I'd missed.... no rhizome. Thats strange....so I began poking and prodding at it...and knock loose a thread. I pull it, and as it unravels, I realize that what my brain registered as a root ball is actually a bundle of black thread holding together four leaves. JUST. LEAVES.
Seriously? Do java ferns root from leaves? As far as I know, they put out new bud plants; which means I'll have to let the leaves float, rot into my tank, re-plant the wee little plants, and wait for them to get up to three or so inches JUST TO GET THE PRODUCT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Needless to say, i'll be contacting corporate - with all the negativity they already get for selling non-aquatics mislabeled, I'm sure they wont care....but buyer beware! If you buy one, keep the receipt and inspect the plant thoroughly before committing to keeping it.