jimboliana
Fish Crazy
Thought i would share this with you all, you may have already read it 
A Guide to Pruning Techniques for Different Family of Aquatic Plants (AquaJournal Vol.36)
Part 1
Plants Producing Runners
A large number of aquatic plants with runners will respond to regular pruning. Regular pruning will induce compact growth. Eleocharis (hairgrass), Lilaeopsis and Sagittaria (tape grass), for example, are representatives of plants that produce runners. Since these plants produce a closely-knit dense growth over a period of time, they must be regularly thinned out. Otherwise under strong light, especially in thick grassy clumps, algae may develop if fishes or invertebrates can’t eat them anymore. Pruning would also enable the light to reach the lower parts of the leaves and help with the development of young shoots. Regular pruning will stimulate these aquatic plants into producing more runners, so cutting the top growth of the linear leaves may result in creating more growth.
Technique 1: Positioning Cut
The method of pruning is to cut the top linear leaves that have become too tall or leggy, the cut should be positioned horizontally 10-20mm above the aquarium substrate soon after planting. Successive pruning should be carried out to the desired height. Pruning monthly entails cuts to shorten the linear leaves by two thirds.
Technique 2: Thinning the Growth.
Since most runners produce a whole chain of young shoots that form a densely knitted growth, thinning may be required to maintain the health of the plants. Take Echinodorus tenellus and Echinodorus latifolius for instants, as a precautionary measure, the weaker young, side shoots runners and old plants should be pruned so that the clump always stay young and healthy.
Because the shoots are inter-linked to the parent plants by runners, it will be necessary to cut away the spindly runner during thinning routine. Often, a whole chain of plantlets will follow if they were to be removed this way, this leaves large holes in the planting and cause a unsightly view with floating dangling roots in midwater, so you may need to replant some of the removed ones and re-insert those roots back into the substrate.
Matted clumps with algae should be removed entirely and the healthiest young plants picked out and replanted. Always make it a habit to clear out all residual cuttings from the aquarium.
Part 2
Rosette Plants
Rosette plants have a foreshortened stem. The stem is not visible; the growth of the leaves are so close together that they appear to be a rosette of leaves arising from the ground. As with maintenance procedures, you must work carefully so the natural appearance of the plants will not be impaired. Large rosette plants such as Cryptocoryne and Echinodorus genus must have their growth controlled. However, these low light plants only require periodic pruning, by cutting out dead and diseased leaves, it would encourage new young leaves to emerge.
Technique:
The method for pruning large Cryptocoryne leaves is to cut out the oldest third of the withering leaves. Cut away any other rotten and diseased leaves to maintain the plants health. Pruning them before the disease spread is one way you can save your dying plants.
A Guide to Pruning Techniques for Different Family of Aquatic Plants (AquaJournal Vol.36)
Part 1
Plants Producing Runners
A large number of aquatic plants with runners will respond to regular pruning. Regular pruning will induce compact growth. Eleocharis (hairgrass), Lilaeopsis and Sagittaria (tape grass), for example, are representatives of plants that produce runners. Since these plants produce a closely-knit dense growth over a period of time, they must be regularly thinned out. Otherwise under strong light, especially in thick grassy clumps, algae may develop if fishes or invertebrates can’t eat them anymore. Pruning would also enable the light to reach the lower parts of the leaves and help with the development of young shoots. Regular pruning will stimulate these aquatic plants into producing more runners, so cutting the top growth of the linear leaves may result in creating more growth.
Technique 1: Positioning Cut
The method of pruning is to cut the top linear leaves that have become too tall or leggy, the cut should be positioned horizontally 10-20mm above the aquarium substrate soon after planting. Successive pruning should be carried out to the desired height. Pruning monthly entails cuts to shorten the linear leaves by two thirds.
Technique 2: Thinning the Growth.
Since most runners produce a whole chain of young shoots that form a densely knitted growth, thinning may be required to maintain the health of the plants. Take Echinodorus tenellus and Echinodorus latifolius for instants, as a precautionary measure, the weaker young, side shoots runners and old plants should be pruned so that the clump always stay young and healthy.
Because the shoots are inter-linked to the parent plants by runners, it will be necessary to cut away the spindly runner during thinning routine. Often, a whole chain of plantlets will follow if they were to be removed this way, this leaves large holes in the planting and cause a unsightly view with floating dangling roots in midwater, so you may need to replant some of the removed ones and re-insert those roots back into the substrate.
Matted clumps with algae should be removed entirely and the healthiest young plants picked out and replanted. Always make it a habit to clear out all residual cuttings from the aquarium.
Part 2
Rosette Plants
Rosette plants have a foreshortened stem. The stem is not visible; the growth of the leaves are so close together that they appear to be a rosette of leaves arising from the ground. As with maintenance procedures, you must work carefully so the natural appearance of the plants will not be impaired. Large rosette plants such as Cryptocoryne and Echinodorus genus must have their growth controlled. However, these low light plants only require periodic pruning, by cutting out dead and diseased leaves, it would encourage new young leaves to emerge.
Technique:
The method for pruning large Cryptocoryne leaves is to cut out the oldest third of the withering leaves. Cut away any other rotten and diseased leaves to maintain the plants health. Pruning them before the disease spread is one way you can save your dying plants.
