Amazon Sword And Java Fern Questions

[Too Fast]

I have put a couple of Amazon swords in my tank. They have been in for 3-4weeks now and the leaves seem to be going either brown or clear. The tank is low light however I dose Flourish Excel daily as well as Flourish twice weekly. Is this just those leaves dying off and new ones will come through or is the plant on it's way out
I'm guessing I need to cut the brown/clear leaves out asap?

At the same time I put some Java Fern in the tank and it seems to be doing well. It has started sprouting on the end of the leaves which seems to get more every day. What do I do with this

 

[mtv8dmarine]

I'm guessing I need to cut the brown/clear leaves out asap?

Correct, brown and clear (melting) leaves should be cut and removed. The plant will be better off spending it's energy on new growth than repairing the older leaves.

 

[ian]

Swords don't repair themselves. The leaf needs to come off. Cut it with a sharp pair of scissor as close to the substrate as you can. As for the fern, they are baby ferns. You can take them off and replant.

 

[Too Fast]

My gravel is about 1.5 inches thick before you get to the soil undeneath. How do I go about replanting them? will they just take in the grvel or do I need to remove it down to the soil for them???

 

[bassbonediva]

Java fern is a rhizomal plant that doesn't do too well planted in the substrate. It does MUCH better tied to a piece of driftwood or a rock.

 

[Ben M]

hi, java ferns can't be planted in the gravel as they will rot. you must attach the rhizome (the bit where all of the leaves sprout from) to a piece of wood or rock, either with fishing line, thread or superglue (if you use superglue make sure it is cyanocrylate, it should say if it is on the packet. i personally use superglue, as i find it much easier to use, and much less fiddly than thread. make sure you dry the rock/wood and the rhizome before applying a tiny amount of glue, and leave for 30 sec to dry before returning to the tank.

cheers

 

[stevereade]

Just so you know the best way to remove sword leaves is to push the base of the leaf with your finger downwards into the substrate so it completely removes the whole thing down to the root, if it snaps which it might as sword stems are delicate it will leave rotting vegetation in your substrate.