Amazon Swords

[adriansp]

My Amazon Sword plants are putting out long shoots which are heading for the surface. These shoots are now starting to to leaf. Should these be allowed to continue to grow or should they be pruned? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Liam]

Its either flower stalk or runners, the flower stalk is quite rigid, it usually has clusters of a few leaves in three or four places on the stalk, as they reach the surface you can see the flower buds. I like to see them flower, just small white flowers but nice none the less. The stalk looks nice too with the smaller leaves. If the tank has a top and the stalk gets too close to the light the flower buds shrivel with the heat. If it meets the tank lid it wont progress either. Like any flower it takes energy from the plant I guess, so if you want a bigger plant you could cut it off. If its runners, they are less rigid than the stalk, then you are getting more amazons. Its up to you if you want more and there is room for them. Either way it’s a happy sword that puts out runners or flowers.

 

[adriansp]

Its either flower stalk or runners, the flower stalk is quite rigid, it usually has clusters of a few leaves in three or four places on the stalk, as they reach the surface you can see the flower buds. I like to see them flower, just small white flowers but nice none the less. The stalk looks nice too with the smaller leaves. If the tank has a top and the stalk gets too close to the light the flower buds shrivel with the heat. If it meets the tank lid it wont progress either. Like any flower it takes energy from the plant I guess, so if you want a bigger plant you could cut it off. If its runners, they are less rigid than the stalk, then you are getting more amazons. Its up to you if you want more and there is room for them. Either way it’s a happy sword that puts out runners or flowers.

From what you describe, they are definitly flower stalks. I'll leave them be for a while & see how they develop. Thanks for your help.