Can I Cut A Sword Down To The Base?

[Evad]

I have a sword plant. Unfortunately I cannot tell you the type but it has long leaves about 18" in length and about an inch wide at its widest point. They have pointed tips and the leaf has a pattern is the same as most swords.

Anyway - my question is that I now finallly have my algae under control. This plant is sprouting new leaves that look fabulous but it has about 30 older leaves that I need to cut out. Instead of cutting one by one I wanted to see if it was possible to cut the whole thing off at the base. Would that kill it? Or now that growing conditions are so much more favorable will it grow back?

 

[Jdubz]

I had the same problem with mine, i took it out of the water and trimmed all the old leaves off from the base and had 3-4 leaves left(2" long) now they are about 5" long and got about 9 leaves now, 'pruning' gives the whole plant a boost i find did it with my ferns and they are growing like mad now.

Jake

 

[RadaR]

I did this with my Red Flame Amazon Sword because it grew huge. Soon enough, despite cutting all the leaves off at the base, new perfect leaves were growing again.

 

[Evad]

Great news! I will give it a haircut and add a root tab to help it out

Thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

as long as it has white roots the plant will still be alive.