How To Plant Java Fern?

[ey2006]

Just wondering what the best way is to plant java fern in a tank?

The root is very long to bury into the gravel, others have suggested tieing it to driftwood or a rock, but I don't have either of this. Is there other ways to plant the fern?

Currently, I'm just letting it float on top of the tank.

 

[mitchie]

You could try weighing it down with a rock or lead weight, however the string or thin rubber band is the best way in my opinion. Also, keep in mind that you aren't supposed to "plant" the java fern in gravel.

 

[phlawed]

Just wondering what the best way is to plant java fern in a tank?

The root is very long to bury into the gravel, others have suggested tieing it to driftwood or a rock, but I don't have either of this. Is there other ways to plant the fern?

Currently, I'm just letting it float on top of the tank.

with one hand remove some gravel in the selected place you want to put it, just make a pile of gravel beside it, put the plant down there and move the gravel on top of plant roots, have another handfull of gravel in another hand and put on top of it making a small mound around fern. any roots sticking up just lightly push below gravel. It will do the rest from there.

You could try weighing it down with a rock or lead weight, however the string or thin rubber band is the best way in my opinion. Also, keep in mind that you aren't supposed to "plant" the java fern in gravel.

says who? I have had java fern grow GREAT in gravel.

 

[Captain Retardo]

says who? I have had java fern grow GREAT in gravel.

Same thing with my friend, I am thinking about planting it in gravel too

 

[phlawed]

think he is thinking of another plant, maybe anubius or something...not sure

 

[Themuleous]

As far as I know (and from the tropica website) the advice is not to plant java fern in the substrate as it'll rot the rhizome, you could plant it but just make sure the rhizome is above the gravel. But that said, if you have and it grows then so be it!

Sam

 

[ey2006]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've also read the same thing Sam mentioned - that its best not to plant java fern in the substrate as it'll rot the rhizome, you could plant it but just make sure the rhizome is above the gravel.

When I read this, I was confused as I have no idea what the rhizome is...can someone please tell me what the rhizome is on the java fern?

 

[Themuleous]

As far as I am aware it's the root type thing that the leaves grow out of, have tried to show it on here

Hope this helps

Sam

 

[ey2006]

Thanks a lot for that Sam, it definitely helps identifying it now. I'll go and check to make sure the rhizome isnt buried under the gravel.

Where do you plant your java fern (if you have some)?

 

[qwikimpss]

It is reccommended you do not plant either Java Fern or Anubias species in the gravel, they should be tied to rocks or driftwood. But, they can be "planted" loosely and not do deep as to cover up the rhizome, this should never be covered.

All of my Java ferns are growing happily on rocks but I do have some Anubias "planted" and what I do to keep you from seeing any roots that are out of the gravel or the rhizome is I plant it behind a piece of driftwood that I don't want to tie it to, this way you cant see the "ugly" bits of the plant.

 

[Themuleous]

I tie all my java ferns (and anubais for that matter) to bogwood. A cunning trick with this is to use cotton. By the time the cotton has rotted off the java fern will have attached itself to the wood/stone. Looked at my middle tank this evening during the clean and noticed the cotton had gone (found it in my filter later on) and the fern was firmly attached.

Sam

 

[ey2006]

Thanks qwikimpss and Sam for the replies! I think I'll tie my java fern to a new piece of driftwood I bought today. I'm still soaking the driftwood in a bucket of water, but I do plan to tie it to some java moss and java fern.

Is it hard to tie it to the driftwood?

Could you please post some photos of what your bogwood/rock with java fern tied to it looks like? I'd love to see! Thanks

 

[qwikimpss]

I would post some pics but I have no good ones of my Java on their rocks, I can take some this weekend tho...already planned to!

 

[Themuleous]

It can get a bit fiddily to tie it, you just have to be a bit patient with it. You'll probably fine the rhyzome breaks when you start seperating it, but I found that when I didnt seperate the plant into several smaller pieces the centre of the root ball rotted so its no bad thing really, and each bit normally has 4-5 leaves on it, just tie each of these seperate bits onto the wood a few centimentres apart and it should do fine. You may need to go round it and the log a few times with the cotton or string to get it to hold, but you'll see all this when you try it.

Will see if I can get some pics posted on Sunday.

Sam