Java ferns

[sharkweek178]

I just don't have any luck with java ferns. I keep reading how hardy and easy they are. But more often than not, mine turn brown and die. It's a little embarrassing because these are supposed to be an easy beginner plant.
Is it too much light? Since they're slow growing I don't think it's a lack of nutrients.

 

[gwand72 188]

My understanding is that Java ferns are low light plants. I do not put direct light on them. And I only expose them to artificial light between 8 AM and 1 PM.

 

[Naughts72 144]

I just don't have any luck with java ferns. I keep reading how hardy and easy they are. But more often than not, mine turn brown and die. It's a little embarrassing because these are supposed to be an easy beginner plant.
Is it too much light? Since they're slow growing I don't think it's a lack of nutrients.

I have the same problem. I assumed they don't like my water - maybe certain minerals/levels don't agree with them - and that my lights are too bright? There's lots of other plants out there, so I just keep the ones that are happy in my tanks.

 

[Fishfunn]

Since I moved my plecos out of my tanks with Java ferns, they are growing. I have a large albino pleco that was eating everything. The Java Ferns are slow growing but they arent dying off with the pleco out of the tank. I got my fingers crossed.

 

[Archerfish]

I just don't have any luck with java ferns. I keep reading how hardy and easy they are. But more often than not, mine turn brown and die. It's a little embarrassing because these are supposed to be an easy beginner plant.
Is it too much light? Since they're slow growing I don't think it's a lack of nutrients.

Don't be embarrassed, we are all here to help each other! Most of what is on the net about java fern is trash such as it only grows in dim light and in water temp of 68 to 78 degrees blah, blah... Do you have the roots attached to a log or rock? That is the best way to get it started. Contrary to popular belief, they can grow in the substrate at their will so let it extend the roots down to establish itself. I have this plant growing in one of my ponds outside in the sunshine (filtered) emersed. Do you know the source of the plant such as another hobbyist or was it acquired from a pet shop? This plant will grow unless you have really awful water which I doubt.

 

[sharkweek178]

Don't be embarrassed, we are all here to help each other! Most of what is on the net about java fern is trash such as it only grows in dim light and in water temp of 68 to 78 degrees blah, blah... Do you have the roots attached to a log or rock? That is the best way to get it started. Contrary to popular belief, they can grow in the substrate at their will so let it extend the roots down to establish itself. I have this plant growing in one of my ponds outside in the sunshine (filtered) emersed. Do you know the source of the plant such as another hobbyist or was it acquired from a pet shop?

I get them from Etsy. I usually superglue the rhizome to pebbles. That way I can move them around if I want. Although my most successful ones are glued to a piece of driftwood.

 

[Archerfish]

Try tying them to the driftwood with cotton thread. The thread should not be super tight to avoid crushing or breaking the roots. Over time, the plant attaches itself to the wood and the thread dissolves. If on line, the source then is unknown. They could have been grown emersed or...in higher light than you are providing or whatever. Taking a plant from dim light to bright light can cause shock. Its sort of like taking a house plant outdoors and seeing the leaves bleach and the plant die. Acclimate. Do you have anyone in your area that grows this plant? Pittsburg has a great aquarium society. You might contact them. If you lived closer, I would give you some. My turtle loves the excess growth but I would rather share it!

 

[Colin_T]

They can suffer from pH and GH shock so if you buy them from a grower that keeps them in soft water and you put them in hard water, they don't do well.

Lack of light is another reason and lack of fertiliser. Plants are usually grown outdoors in full sunlight and when they are put in an aquarium, they get a tiny amount of light compared to what they used to get.

If you burry the rhizome they don't do well either.

 

[sharkweek178]

They can suffer from pH and GH shock so if you buy them from a grower that keeps them in soft water and you put them in hard water, they don't do well.

I have soft water. What about vice versa, from hard water to soft water? I assume that could be a similar problem.

Lack of light is another reason and lack of fertiliser. Plants are usually grown outdoors in full sunlight and when they are put in an aquarium, they get a tiny amount of light compared to what they used to get.

I try to find a balance. I don't want my fish getting blasted with too much light but try to provide an adequate amount for the plants. Most of my other plants grow well enough. Is too much light an issue with java ferns?

If you burry the rhizome they don't do well either.

Never do that. I always superglue them to something.

 

[Colin_T]

Hard water to soft water and vice versa, along with major pH changes, and sudden temperature changes will affects most plants.

If the plants get algae on their leaves, they are getting too much light or too many nutrients. Apart from that, you can give aquarium plants full sun all day and they are normally fine, as long as they are acclimatised to it over a period of weeks so they don't get sunburnt.

 

[Magnum Man73 187]

I have them growing in mildly acidic, neutral, and hard water… often they are raised ( edited here, as emergent plants ) ( they grow faster, so lots of sellers do that )… I just clip an inch and a half of solid core lead free solder, and bend it around the rhizome, and plop them in, and I end up with “tangles” as they start making babies from the leaf tips…. No fertilizer, and reasonably bright LED lights… this one is actually looking pretty nice right now, and I’ve done nothing to them, but let them go… the top group was babies that floated free, and sucked towards the filter, and got naturally grounded on the driftwood, that is in front of the filter intake

 

[Magnum Man73 187]

This tank, they were just dropped into a group on this side of the tank, on the one side of a piece of driftwood

 

[Magnum Man73 187]

Yet another tank this was just one plant ( rhizome section ) dropped next to this resin hollow log… often times the terrestrial plant dies back, but shoots a bunch of babies from the dieing back leaf, which can be seen at the very base of this plant…

 

[Fishfunn]

I have them growing in mildly acidic, neutral, and hard water… often they are raised as terrestrial plants ( they grow faster, so lots of sellers do that )… I just clip an anch and a half of solid core lead free solder, and bend it around the rhizome, and plop them in, and I end up with “tangles” as they start making babies from the leaf tips…. No fertilizer, and reasonably bright LED lights…

Mine are growing in the same soft water and lighting conditions too, I dont have to fertilize them at all. I credit my RO/DI water for making a difference.

 

[Magnum Man73 187]

I edited my 1st post… I used the word terrestrial, when I should have used the word emergent…

Most often the emergent plants grow faster for the sellers, and while the rhizomes will continue to live, often the foliage ends up dying, when planted submerged again…. but don’t pull them out, this plant often will shoot babies out of the leaves, of suffering plants, and that can be witnessed in my 3rd post