Amazon Sword out of control

[Mustang5L5]

Well, i guess it's a testament to my good plantkeeping i guess.

Anyway, i have a large Amazon sword in my tank. It's the centerpeice. I planted it when it was 4" tall. It's been in the tank over a year and is outgrowing it.

My tank is 24" tall and the leaves are to the surface and are numerous. I cut back the old ones, but there are just too many.

It's starting to choke off my other plants.

I thought about pulling it out, but i can see the root system of the plant and it extends throughout the entire tank under the substrate. Pulling it up would displace everything and cause a huge mess in my tank.

I do have a small 6" tall Amazon sword i can replace it with. This sword is offspring of the big Sword

What would you do??

 

[Spilk]

Trim like I've never trimmed before.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I have no problem trimming, except that the leaves are about 24" in lenght and 4-5" wide. I just don't want to end up with a thin, unnatural lookin plant

I really want the plant to go back to a shorter leave lenght, maybe start sending up 6" leaves.

I estimate maybe 20-30 large leaves on this plant

 

[BettasRFriends]

Well if i were you, you would give a little bit of it away (i'll be glad to have some (gotta redecorate)) I'll pay for the shipping charges

 

[guppygirl]

Well, I myself have a sword plant exactly like yours. My reccomendation is if you don't want the plant taking over your tank with it's beautiful growth, give it away to someone who has the same appruciation for it along with a big tank. Or of course, you could get a bigger tank!! You could auction it off on the internet.
HTH!
Robin

 

[guppygirl]

BTW, you can't just make it grow shorter leaves unless you starve it of light, nutrients and all that good stuff.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I would have no problem giving it away except that i am afraid than when i take it out, i'll rip a large portion of it's root network away. I can see the roots from it on the underside of the tank and they cover about 3 square feet of area. I don't want to kill it giving it away or selling it on Ebay. Also, I've never shipped a plant before so i'm unsure how to do it.

I love the plant, but it's choking out everything else. The bottom of my tank is so dim that lower level plants have slowed in their growth.

I'llask around now. If anyone local to Boston wants a large Amazon Sword, shoot me an email. Mustang5L5@hotmail.com

Keep in mind the plant is about 2 feet tall and is 2 feet wide in spread.