Cutting Plants

Welsh

I recently bought a Alternanthera Rosaefolia plant for my aquarium and it's grown well out of the water. I was wondering if I snipped the ends off the plant could I then re-plant them in a different part of the tank, what they root and grow?

Thanks

Byron

Yes. Stem plants will usually need to be pruned/trimmed as they are mainly fast growers and will grow up to the surface and then, depending upon the species, either along the surface or out of the water. To keep the plant tidy when this occurs, cut off the top portion as far down as you want and stick it in the substrate; it will root and grow, until you have to do the same again, and so on.

Sometimes one may want the plant growing along the surface or out of the tank, but when they do this the lower leaves usually fall off as the plant is putting its energy into the upper leaves where the light is strongest.

When you trim stem plants as above, pull out the lower portion and replace it with the top portion. This way you keep the plants looking fresh.

Byron.

Welsh

Thank you and a handy litlte tip about keeping them fresh too =)