Cutting Crypts

[Gonze]

If I take a knife or razor blade and cut my mother plant (it's a crypt) in half will it continue to grow and produce new plants?

 

[Themuleous]

Out of interest why do you want to do that? Crypts as a general rule are normally quite hardy but does really like being moved.

Sam

 

[Colin_T]

don't cut the crypt if it is less than 6 months old. And only cut them once or twice a year. Preferably only once.
If the plant is healthy and has been growing well for a while then yes you can lift them and cut them up or divide them. Don't cut the tubers/ rhizome too small, (keep them at least 1inch long). Use a sharp knife or razor blade and make sure they don't get squished during the process.
Also keep the water quality really good for the first month after cutting. If the water quality deteriorates then the plant could die.

 

[hondadal]

My advice would be to leave crypts alone as long as possible they do not like being moved, if it is essential to reduce their size split them gently by hand most of them tease apart

 

[Gonze]

Out of interest why do you want to do that? Crypts as a general rule are normally quite hardy but does really like being moved.

Sam

I wanted to have a couple large plants in the tank. The crypt I have is massive and can fill about 65% or so of a 20gallon tank but I don't want to take chances so I'll let the plant be. Thanks for insights guys.