Java Fern Roots?

[Laffers]

Hi all.

I recently got some Java fern to attach to my bogwood which didn't come with a rhizome. I had already read on the forums that they should really come with one but a reliable source on here told me you can still get away if it doesn't come with one.

The pic below shows the edges of the 'cut' java fern, which i assumed would be the bottom of the plant.

In the last couple of days, I have noticed what seems to be roots growing from the opposite end of the plant to what the above picture shows. Just wondering if someone could just clarify that this is indeed what is happening? If so, do I just need to plant the ferns from this end? I thinking it will look silly if I have to the given the shape of the other end of the leaf.

Below is a picture of the 'roots'

While I am in this forum, I was also wondering if I could get any advice on what else I could do with my tank layout wise. I don't really want to get into co2, but I would like a reshuffle of the plants I have in my tank. I currently have some Amazon Sword in there which are slowly going brown. I plan to get some root tabs for these though which I am hoping will help. I'm also not keep on the plants on the left of my tank which seem to be growing really quickly but in my opinion do not really look very nice. I'm tempted to replace this with some kind of vallis as its always looks straggly at the moment.

Another thing I was thinking of doing, but not sure if I will be able to without using Co2 is having a carpet of moss over the top of the slate in my tank. I was planning on using something like weeping moss as I have heard this is one of the easiest to grow in normal tank conditions without having to use Co2 etc. Do you think this would be possible? Current tank shot is below for reference.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help

 

[aaronnorth]

The roots are a new plant forming, can you see the little green 'sticks' popping out? Those are the rhizome, wait until they get a decent size and then poull them off and use it

If you dont like it, then just cut them off.


Java moss is easier than weeping moss but you can stilll grow both,

Fr the left side, buy more of the same plant and have a thick bush and trim it onto a shape if your feeling adventurous.

the 'fluffly' plant is caroliniana cabomba

and the spkiy one is elodea/ egeria densa

 

[Wolfenrook]

The little roots on the leaves are little java fern plantlets forming, quite common on older leaves. As to the leaves been cut, in my experience it will be a miracle if they don't just die and rot, you will by that point however have a load of new healthy little baby java ferns hopefully from the leaves. Usual guidance from taking cuttings from java ferns is to leave at least 2 leaves per piece of rhizome. Frankly whoever you bought them from should be discusted with themselves.

As to your moss question, you don't need CO2 for moss. Weeping moss and spikey moss are both nice mosses that are also very easy to grow. Java moss, despite it's popularity, is in my experience usually much slower to allimatise to new conditions, usually arriving having been grown emersed and then most of it turning brown before new shoots grow.

Ade

 

[Laffers]

Thank you both for your speedy replies on the subject.

I'm currently planning an 80l shrimp/planted tank so may well move my plants on the left in this tank into there and replace with a type of vallis after all.

Really glad to hear that the moss will grow without Co2, I always had it in my head that it would be difficult stuff to grow.

If I were to buy my next lot of plants online (Ebay etc) would the plants be on in the packaging they were sent in for a good few hours after they are received? If they are delivered mid week I will obviously be at work and they would be sitting about until about 6 pm when I get home. Would this damage/kill the plant before I even got it out of the packaging?

 

[aaronnorth]

they can last a few days if packaged properly.

 

[Wolfenrook]

So long as they are packaged well (wrapped in wet paper of some sort) they will be fine, especially mosses which happily grow emersed so long as they are kept damp. The exception is in very hot or cold weather, but that wont be an issue indoors.

Oh and a tip, buy your moss from an individual, not a trader. Most mosses bought from traders have been grown emersed, and as I have said they tend to trun brown and die off a bit when you put them under water before sprouting new shoots. Mosses baught from individuals are usually cuttings from tank grown plants, and arrive looking much healthier. You also usually get better portions.

Ade

 

[Ian H]

yep deff by it off some one rather than a shop. I'm not sure if he's got any left but i had some great healthy moss (java) from smithrc a while back

 

[Laffers]

Once again, thank you for the speedy responses, think Aaron must have virtually started typing the second I actually posted the topic!!

Think I'll have make a post in the buying forum to see if anybody has any for sale.

Before I do though, have you got any other recommendations on what I can do to improve the tank?

 

[Wolfenrook]

Once again, thank you for the speedy responses, think Aaron must have virtually started typing the second I actually posted the topic!!

Think I'll have make a post in the buying forum to see if anybody has any for sale.

Before I do though, have you got any other recommendations on what I can do to improve the tank?

Yes, put a blue background on the back (rockscape tanks always look good on blue, where wood scape tanks look better on black, in my opinion, but if you get a blue/black backing film you can try both. ). I would also plant up the open sand area with a nice large quantity of dwarf hairgrass. The sand is too bright and glaring.

Ade