Attaching Plants To Rocks (Or Bogwood)

[chrisbassist]

I have 2 questions on this. I mean plants like java fern.

1. How do you do it?

I've heard superglue mentioned, and I've heard elastic bands... Are either of these right? How do you actually attach them?

2. What other plants can you do this with?

 

[Ashley1991]

if you have a good shaped rock you can use string around the rock and roots then when they root into the wood or rock take it off

its harder on funny shaped things though so i was also wondering this question!

Ash

 

[SuperColey1]

In short the easiest method:

Other methods in order of ease are:
elastic bands
cable ties
cotton/fishing line.

I use the superglue as often as I can. I used to use elastic bands which tend to snap after a couple of months in water at which time the plant is attached and becomes really easy to remove.

Many use cable ties but I'm not overly keen on them.

Many use cotton wool/fishing line but in my mind this can become a potential danger to fish and have heard stories of fish getting gills caught on it.

On another note I used to use hairnets to keep riccia to slates. I stopped this when several catfish kept getting their fins stuck to them.

AC

AC

 

[Bobtastic]

I have used both cotten thread and recently superglue. I will be using superglue from now on as it is a heck of a lot easier to stick on to things then having to wrap the cotton around and around and around and around (u get the impression) only for it to come undone 3weeks later!

You can use it on Java Fern, Anubias and pretty much any moss.

 

[chrisbassist]

Ok so glue.

Do you glue the side of the stem?

 

[Bobtastic]

I just put glue on the peice of slate I was using as a base and placed the root-like end on to the glue and held it there until it dried enough to hold it in place.

AC have you ever used superglue to attach plants to wood or rocks that are in your tank and are therefore wet and quite water logged? I was thinking of dropping the water level on the tank in my sig and gluing some moss on to the arms of the wood, but they would obviously be quite wet...

 

[chrisbassist]

Right cheers. That's part 1 answered.

Anyone for part 2?

Other plants you can do it with?

 

[BackToTheFishes]

Anubias is the only other one I know,but am sure there must be more

 

[Bobtastic]

Java Fern (all types), Anubias (all types), bolbitis hendelotii and I think most types of moss are ok being attach with glue.

 

[SuperColey1]

Just a quick answer here

The bonding agent for superglue is..........water, namely moisture. That is why it cures so quickly on your skin.

However be very careful with it if you want to be using it in-situ. It will be fine to use it on the hardscape whilst in the tank but you would have to be quick. You also would have to be very careful that runny superglue doesn't dribble very quickly down the wood into the water. I have no idea how toxic it is before curing and therefore you risk it here.

I would guess its very toxic judging from how much your eyes hurt from the vapour if you are using it a lot!!!!

If I have to I use cable ties once the item is in situ. Rarely happens as I put all the plants I want in at the beginning and then leave it

AC

 

[Bobtastic]

Thanks AC. Yeah for my next attempt I'm gonna make sure I have everything I want b4 I start scaping. I've done this one "a bit at a time". I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as I think that is what has caused most of my problems.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I've just moved my two Anubias nanas onto the smaller piece of bogwood and used two postie red eleastic bands on each to hold roots in place!

 

[PDSimon]

I read of the forums somewhere (maybe from truck?) that proper superglue containing cyanoacrylate(please check) dries instantly in water anyway

 

[chrisbassist]

Cheers.

I'm doing mine a bit at a time. Mainly so it's an evolution rather than being too defined.

Maybe next time I'll do it a all at once but I've never used real plants before.

 

[Bobtastic]

I think it's the way most ppl get into it. I think you have to be pretty enthusiastic to go an buy ALL the stuff that you need, then set up your tank.