How Often Do You Uproot Plants ?

[L_Plates]

Morning all, my question is ...

How often do you uproot plants to trim them and split as needed ?

I ask this because last night i had to uproot all my plants to properly trim and split them down as they had become a little to bunched up and was getting bits of algae due to lack of flow.

I set this tank up may its 3 months since planting.

I have been trimming weekly as needed but the bottom of the plants where starting to look awful as its hard to cut the leaf really low so i had decaying bits of plants at the bottom where i had cut them.

Good thing is now my tank has good flow again and the plants look refreshed. They just need a few weeks to grow again as it looks like it did when i originally planted it, a little bare

Cheers
LP

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I really depends of the type of tank. The more high tech you go in terms oc lighting, ferts and co2, the faster the plants will grow. I have maintained about a dozen assorted tanks for a number of years and only two require regular stem plant removal, cutting and replanting. My one high tech tank it is about every 3 weeks and the highest moderate light tank is about every 3 months. However the depth of the tank will also be a consideration.

My high tech tank is 19 inches (43.5cm) deep but the moderate tank above is just over 23 inches (60.3cm).

 

[StandbySetting]

I don't really, That's a low tech set up and I just let them fill in.

 

[ian]

you don't need to really...are they stems or crowned plants?

It'd be a nightmare uprooting things like crypts and swords. If you are careful and have some scissors and long tweezers to hand, you can split these king of plants, without uprooting.

 

[Aquamaniac]

Uprooting why?just cut it where you see fit.I don't uproot unless i really want to remove it or change its place.

 

[L_Plates]

you don't need to really...are they stems or crowned plants?

Its a mix of both.

Uprooting why?just cut it where you see fit.I don't uproot unless i really want to remove it or change its place.

I have been cutting them but i could not cut properly due to the amount that had spread and bunched together. This was due to me being new and just planting them not knowing i was planting them way to close to each other.

My main reason other than that was to have a good clean out aswell i suppose. Now i have managed to get a good co2 and fert regime in place my plants will be healthier. The ones i took out i used the opportunity to remove any bad leaves properly. The plants look a lot better and brighter now most of the old unhealthy leaves have gone.

Cheers
LP

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I assumed the OP was asking about stem plants. There are a few factors involved.

- The plants eventually reach the surface and then grow across it blocking the light. So one will have to deal with this.
- In lower light tanks, stems can ge leggy because there is not enough light reaching the lower parts of them. Leggy in that fewer leaves grow along the lower part of the stem so they look bare/leggy.
- When you simply cut off the top of a stem plant, the regrowth will not be a single shoot, it will be multiple shoots. If one wishes to maintain the single stem look, you have to pull them up, cut them and only replant the top. If you want a bushy look, then cut the stem near the substrate and multiple shoots emerge and you get more of a bush.

 

[sarah40011]

thanks for this! where i was cutting my plants i had masses of roots everywhere mid way up and new branches sticking out all over. ive trimmed some to the floor and re planted a few of the cut offs. looks so much better