pruning amazon swords

[One_Trick_Pony]

basically how do i do it< do i just take off the offending stems at the botoom or just take off the leaf or waht?

cheers OTP

 

[Lateral Line]

Swords are rosette plants so they don't really have "stems", each leaf begins as a small leaflet in the centre of the rosette. As it grows, smaller leaves form behind it effectively moving it outward.

If you want to take some large leaves off, cut the leaf low, but obviously avoid damaging the crown. Cut with sharp tools. "Nipping off with your fingers can cause damage which enables rot to set it which can destroy the plant - not the italics, it is unusual, but it can happen.

Or are we talking runners here?

 

[newfishies]

when is it okay to break off the runners? i have some sword compacta that have several babies growing on runners, but i am afraid i will destroy them if i break the runner!

 

[Lateral Line]

You can cut the runner as soon as the plantlets on it are large enough to root in your substrate. The ciarser the substrate, the larger they should be.

Of course, i you don't cut the runner, it will develop more plants...