Trimming stem plants

[Nippy Fish]

How far down the stem do you trim? This will be the first trimming.

 

[mgamer20o0]

as far down as you want. many people cut them in half and replant the top. you can cut a few inch off the top or cut it pull out the bottom and replant them.

 

[An t-iasg]

You can trim either the top or the bottom like mgamer says. I always pull the stem out and trim the bottom three or four inches and replant. You can trim off any length you want. I always leave the tops on since they have the prettiest leaf arrangements. Some people leave the stems in the substrate and trim off the tops. If you trim the tops the plant will grow two or three new stems from the cut-off top area, making the plant bushier and fuller. This would be a good method to make a plant fill in an area better.

 

[jackdaniel]

Does this apply to all aquatic stem plant species? Cutting either a) the top of the leaves off so that they regrow more leaves from one single branch/stem, or b) Cut the branch low to the root base and replant the single or group of branches into the gravel to grow roots?

 

[mgamer20o0]

yes for the most part. often people just cut it in half and replant the top or sell off the top since they look the best.