Care for new plants

[javajo]

Good morning -

My new plants seem to be doing very well.

Cabomba
Watersprite
Red Ludwigia
Suspect plant (may not be true aquatic)

I'm guessing that the Cabomba, WaterSprite & Red Ludwigia are all stem plants correct?

Propogation:
The WaterSprite uses adventitious shoots while the Cabomba and Red Ludwigia use Lateral shoots correct?

Pruning:
Cabomba - (this plant is growing like crazy. One stalk has to be over a foot long. Is it healthy for the plant for these stalks to be this long I know I should cut the tops off but how long should I keep them. The bottom part will no longer grow vertical but will instead grow out (bushy) correct?

Watersprite - How does one prune this - This plant is also growing like crazy!

Red Ludwigia - Is this a slow growing plant? Pruning?

Thanks!

 

[Bol]

Only thing I can help you with is a little about the cabomba, javajo.

From my experience, if you snip a cabomba stalk and leave the bottom in the tank, it will either stop growing, or take many weeks to start branches just under the snip point. Many people will suggest pruning off the bottom part, and replanting the top.

Watersprite, as far as I know, you just snip. As with all plants, it's probably a good idea to snip it just above some leaves.

But, don't listen to anything I say about watersprite! I've got the oddest situation with it here, as it seems to do well while floating, but dies pretty quickly when planted -- exactly the opposite of pretty much everything I've read.

 

[javajo]

Thanks Bol -

From my experience, if you snip a cabomba stalk and leave the bottom in the tank, it will either stop growing, or take many weeks to start branches just under the snip point. Many people will suggest pruning off the bottom part, and replanting the top.

I guess this is just like general terestrial pruning tips. When you cut the tops of plants (I think for the most part), the plant stops growing upwards but rather grows "out".

I tied my Watersprite togther in a bunch with sewing thread - (the thread will eventually rot as opposed to fishing line).

There may be some dead areas underneath where the light doesn't reach but for the most part, this plant is doing very well. It's only been in my tank for less than two weeks and already I have shoots coming up from the bottom!

This is a very nice plant!