Java Fern

[The young one]

Hi, I have ordered some java fern and was wandering whether it has to be attached to bogwood, or can it be planted in the ground?

Thanks in advance
Joe

 

[Jallen]

If you plant it in the ground the rhizome (the tangly green bits at the bottom) will rot.

It must be tied to something and cannot be planted in the substrate.

 

[The young one]

thanks for the fast reply, I was going to use some bogwood in the tank anyway so I'll just tie it to that.

 

[Jallen]

Good plan
I recommend cotton or rubber bands, rubber bands are easier but black cotton is invisible. Fishing line also works well.

 

[The young one]

Yea I'm going to get fishing line anyway as I have some java moss which needs to go on slate.

Thanks
Joe

 

[keeton]

i've never put java fern on a rock or wood. at the moment i've got it planted straight into the sand. currently getting 5 to 6 new plants a week

 

[Geoff1991]

You CAN plant it in the substrate, as long as the rhizome is ABOVE the substrate and not in it. Although, it will look better and grow better on a rock/wood...

 

[Jallen]

You CAN plant it in the substrate, as long as the rhizome is ABOVE the substrate and not in it. Although, it will look better and grow better on a rock/wood...

^ This.

If you plant it in the substrate there is a much bigger risk of the rhizome getting covered up and rotting. It wouldn't work in my tank with the amount my kuhli loaches and pleco move the sand about.

 

[Truck]

You CAN plant it in the substrate, as long as the rhizome is ABOVE the substrate and not in it. Although, it will look better and grow better on a rock/wood...

^ This.

If you plant it in the substrate there is a much bigger risk of the rhizome getting covered up and rotting. It wouldn't work in my tank with the amount my kuhli loaches and pleco move the sand about.

sand wont really gather on the rhizome...it will just fall off. as long as it has some flow it will be fine.

 

[Jallen]

You CAN plant it in the substrate, as long as the rhizome is ABOVE the substrate and not in it. Although, it will look better and grow better on a rock/wood...

^ This.

If you plant it in the substrate there is a much bigger risk of the rhizome getting covered up and rotting. It wouldn't work in my tank with the amount my kuhli loaches and pleco move the sand about.

sand wont really gather on the rhizome...it will just fall off. as long as it has some flow it will be fine.

My pleco digs under the wood and wiggles as fast as he can, making piles of sand about 3 inches tall. I have to frequently brush it off of my crypts which he completely covers

If you don't have an evil fish like this though It could be alright. Still I wouldn't attempt it. A 2x1 inch bit of mopani is a fine thing to attach a fern to (of which you can get at least 10 from a £5 bit of wood) and is barely visible behind the root / rhizome clump anyway. If I wanted one to appear planted in the substrate I'd just do that to be safe.

 

[Geoff1991]

Even so, you can just pull the rhizome up a but during your water change... May as well just tie it into something though...

 

[snowflake311]

its a hardy plant. Put it where ever you want.

 

[Jon1706]

What kind of rocks can you use to grow java fern on

 

[Spanerman]

Any thing you can tie to, rounder pebbles tend to be more trickey!

 

[Jallen]

The rougher the better because then it will be able to grow its roots and rhizome around it faster.

But it doesn't really matter. You could tie it to anything.