Planting Twisted Vallis In Gravel

[ZoddyZod]

Hello,

I've got myself 4 stems of vallis but they have very small root growth and simply float away each time I try to put them in the gravel.

I guess I need to tie them to a small stone until the roots take hold, but is there a correct way of doing this? I've read that some plants must not be planted too deep etc. so I dont want to get it wrong. I've searched the net and cant find a nice simple guide for me to follow.

Any tips?

my gravel is about <3mm in size by the way.

 

[Jallen]

This is a dillema.

IME vallis just goes brown if you bury the crown (omg that rhymed), so don't bury the crown (vallis isn't a stem plant, it has no stem...). The crown is the bit where all the leaves come out.

I would tie it to the side of a rock or bit of wood so that the roots are sat in the substrate as much as possible. This will allow them to continue growing deeper while holding the plant down.

Either that or let it float, which I expect would strongly encourage root growth (more light, no substrate on the roots)...

 

[ZoddyZod]

Either that or let it float, which I expect would strongly encourage root growth (more light, no substrate on the roots)...

letting it float would work for me, it's currently creating a nice piece of cover for my gourami. However, is this natural for the plant? Will it not start to die off unless it is within the substrate?

 

[Jallen]

Either that or let it float, which I expect would strongly encourage root growth (more light, no substrate on the roots)...

letting it float would work for me, it's currently creating a nice piece of cover for my gourami. However, is this natural for the plant? Will it not start to die off unless it is within the substrate?

It will most likely go beserk in trying to root because it thinks its dying from having no roots in the substrate.

I'd wait for confirmation from others though first, I don't want my advice to kill your plant

 

[mixmaster jay]

this is how i start my vallis plantlets off leaving them to float for a couple weeks to get the roots growing

 

[Littlemonkey]

Or how about using an empty tea bag put a marble in it tie around base of vallis, this will keep it on the bottom and the tea bag will allow the roots to grow. Don't know if the fish will be attracted to it though.

 

[ZoddyZod]

this is how i start my vallis plantlets off leaving them to float for a couple weeks to get the roots growing

That's good to know. Will leave them where they are for now then.

Or how about using an empty tea bag put a marble in it tie around base of vallis, this will keep it on the bottom and the tea bag will allow the roots to grow. Don't know if the fish will be attracted to it though.

Like that idea, gives me something extra to do over the weekend.

 

[fearce]

ZoddyZod - How did you get on?? I am in the same position as you and was thinking whether or not to float them first and let roots grow. Has this also worked for you?

 

[ZoddyZod]

ZoddyZod - How did you get on?? I am in the same position as you and was thinking whether or not to float them first and let roots grow. Has this also worked for you?

Still letting them float. No sign of them dying and think the roots may have grown a tiny amount, hard to judge that though to be honest.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Hmmm, it's not going too well. Have noticed a couple of fresh roots with good growth but the majority appear to have turned brown and I believe that means they are dead/rotting?

 

[Jallen]

I'd try them in the substrate again then. If they won't stay in I'd recommend tying them to the side of something with the roots in the substrate as much as possible and eventually you should be able to cut them free...

 

[fearce]

To be honest, my vallis (floating and planted in substrate are turning clear and some brown.....)

I am adding recommended doses of co2 and profito too.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I've got them in the substrate now, but the crown is almost completely covered (I couldn't get them to stick without doing so).

Will see how it goes........

To be honest, my vallis (floating and planted in substrate are turning clear and some brown.....)

I've clipped a few dodgy looking leaves from each stem. There's about 3-4 good leaves on each now and one has grown 3 leaves since being added. Hopefully they'll survive.

 

[fearce]

I got fresh leaves coming through, which I suppose is a good sign.

Is that the proper way to clip the dead ones??

 

[ZoddyZod]

Is that the proper way to clip the dead ones??

I pealed the dead/damaged leaves back to the root. They come away easily at the crown.

I have absoloutely no idea if this is the proper way to do it!