Dont Bin Java Fern!

[mike455555]

you know them leaf's which look dead and you trim of your java fern, dont bin them, there amazing plants, and you can propagate more from them, this can also happen if you damage a healty leaf they'll send off more babys, for anyone who wants quick propagation of java fern 
 

 

[Ch4rlie]

A most excellent tip!
 
I have java fern thats doing pretty well (so far!) in my main tank thats growing on bogwood.
 
And planning on doing a small shrimp tank in very near future so could use my existing java fern cuttings and cultivate these to grow in shrimp tank.
 
Saves money AND learn from the process too! What more could you ask for! 

 
Can you do the same with cryptocoryne walkeri plants as well?
I love these plants when they grow well, you get green leaves as well as red leaves, giving my tank a bit more colour and depth.

 

[mike455555]

no crypts wont propagate  from the leaves but they will send out runners under the substrate if you just leave them they'll put up babys all over the place 

 

[Elrohirthehasty]

Java fern is hard to kill.  Period.  What I mean is, even if they die off, there's always plantlets around.  Everywhere.

Once crypts have their right conditions, they just explode.  Literally, one of my crypt. affinis will make 3 to 6 new runners....each month.

 

[Zikofski]

Yes great tip dude I would have thrown them now I know better haha

 

[Ch4rlie]

That's what am finding with my cryptocoryne, just left alone on gravel and fed root tab once and new shoots coming up on a regular basis. Have only had that planted about 3 weeks ago. Am happy with way it's growing and should be nice and dense in a while!

 

[coolie]

How do you grow the leaf cutting? I was thinking in a jar on some really wet soil might work?

 

[mike455555]

i just let it float and then little ones spawn, really wet soil might work, but it would have to have high humidity and be in the shade its hard to grow java fern emersed 

 

[coolie]

Mike, have you ever done any experiments with hormone rooting powder? My research took me as far as finding out it is indeed the same hormone used by aquatic plants as it is by non-aquatic.

 

[mike455555]

iv not done any experiments, im wanting to try budding powder but its a different hormone to stimulate buds than roots, with roots they tend to become very elongated if theres a over dose of concentration or at least i read that up,  in none aquatic plants