Couple Of Cambomba Qs

[ellena]

While my fishless cycle is not going so brilliantly, my cambomba is really putting on growth!
It's taller than the tank now and laying across the top of the water. If I trim it down, will the original stems bush out and can I use the trimmings and make a new bunch? Is there an optimum place to cut it? (above/below a pair of leaves?)
And what's the best way to bunch it? I have it in the foam and lead it came from the shop in, but I don't want to wrap it too tight and stems keep escaping!
Thanks for any advice

 

[wetelbows]

Remove the weight as it usually causes the bunched stems to rot. Cabomba is best planted as single stems at least 1" apart, carefully remove the bottom set of leaves & bury the stem in the substrate & it will root quickly.
Pruning is easy, cut just above a set of leaves & new shoots will appear from the top & sides & with each pruning the plant will bush up. When the plants get too chunky & messy just whip them out & start again.
Or if you want fast single growth from each stem just cut 6" off the top & re-plant but as it grows so quickly you may need to do this each week.

 

[ellena]

Right-hmmmm! I had previously thought (from this thread) that cabomba had no roots?

 

[wetelbows]

Right-hmmmm! I had previously thought (from this thread) that cabomba had no roots?

In my experience Cabomba produced lots of roots, I used it to help out compete the algae in a new setup along with Hornwort, the Hornwort never rooted & would just rot if I planted in the substrate.
When algae was no longer a problem I replaced them for Limnophila Sessiliflora, much easier to control.

 

[aaronnorth]

All stem plants have the ability to develop roots, but planting them without any wont make a difference as they can take nutrients from the water