Stem Spacing

Only One Haze

I just received my order of Bacopa Caroliniana and Rotala Rotundifolia and was curious as to the recommended stem spacing when planting. They came bundled together with plant weights with about 6 stems to a bundle. Can they be that close or do they need to be spread out. Thanks for the help!

Byron

Either will work, with pro's and con's. First, remove the binding/weight no matter which you choose. Planting the stems individually will allow more light to reach the lower portions and may slow or prevent leaf disintegration. But stem plants usually look more natural in clumps, but depending upon your setup they may have to be frequently trimmed to keep the bottom portions from going bare. As stem plants grow, they grow up toward the light obviously, and the closer they get/the longer the stems, the more likely the lower leaves will die off. This is natural, though it varies depending upon the plant, light, nutrients, depth.