How Long Will Plants Live?

[Walt]

Just a curious question....

How long will plants live in the tank?
Once a plant has been in the tank long enough, its roots will be just about all over the thing...
Once the roots run outta space to grow, will the plant start to die?
Would it then be worth the effort to pull it up, shorten the roots, and replant it?
I notice GF has had his java fern for over 2 years now.. course the root system isnt as intense as say a sword....
I can actually see the bottom of my tank, and the amount of roots under there is unbelievablel!!

Any thoughts on this one?

Walt

 

[George Farmer]

Interesting question Walt.

I would say most plants will live a very long time as long as there is enough light and nutrients.

Eventually the substrate may become so densely packed with roots that this may hinder growth, especially if more than one species "fight" for space and nutrients via allelopathy (a form of chemical warfare).

If the roots become less effecient at nutrient uptake and the substrate become starved of nutrients i.e. laterite or similar has been exhausted of iron etc. the dosing extra ferts in the water column will become more important.

As you state trimming roots and replanting will help. I do this with my Crinum and Sag (when I can be bothered or my plants tell me too by not looking their best). The trimming of the roots actually stimulate growth too.

Unfortunately if you have lots of swords and other gross, root-feeders then uprooting these will cause massive disruption. This is one reason I ditched my swords.

I hope this helps mate.

 

[jimbooo]

i find vallis has a definate life time. the problem i find is the new leaves kind of stack on top of the old ones. a bit like a palm tree. after a year you have 10 inches of stalk before you get to the lush leaves. i have this problem at the moment and could do with ripping it out.

 

[anvil63]

I had hygrophila that lived for ten years, though the tank was redecorated about 3 years into the setup and I can't remember if the original stem was retained or tossed. That plants descendants are still alive now about 20 years later.