Pygmy Chain Swords

[dayzofspeed]

I have recently introduced these into my aquarium, when i bought them from my lfs they have what i am assuming to be flower stalks (similar to runners but with buds on the end). I am considering cutting these off so the plant can put its energy into establishing decent roots. should i do this?

 

[Verminator89]

Snip

Simples




Personally i'd leave the buds on to be fair. If you really want to promote new healthy growth you aught to snip the leaves off the plant, this does what you desire more so than simply snipping off a bud.

 

[ian]

They are runners which will produce new plantlets. You can either cut them off or leave them to produce new plants.

 

[dayzofspeed]

i am trimming off the dying leaves daily as soon as they show signs of deterioration, so these are runners and not flower buds? i have some plants already with runners which have small versions of the mother plant. the ones i am talking about have little round balls at the end not miniature plants, or will these change into plantlets, i could post a pic this evening if it would help. thanks for the advice as always

 

[ian]

They are runners, not flowers as chain swords don't flower. They will root themselves and then grow their leaves from there.

 

[dayzofspeed]

ok and thanks.......... here's hoping for new plants soon

 

[dayzofspeed]

i dont think these are pygmy chain swords after all, having been studying different info on plants i believe it to be dwarf sag. as the new growth is definatly topped by flower buds and as i was told the swords dont flower i needed more info

 

[RadaR]

echinodorus tenellus flower

Like most plants, the submerged form and emersed form look different to one another.

It is entirely possible though that you may have dwarf sag.

 

[dayzofspeed]

its difficult to be exactly sure but that looks like the plant i have, so maybe its pygmy chain sword after all, just as long as it grows in lower light i'm not really bothered

 

[ian]

echinodorus tenellus flower

Like most plants, the submerged form and emersed form look different to one another.

It is entirely possible though that you may have dwarf sag.

The plant won't flower under water RadaR, which is what i was saying. The plant would be sending out a runner which is what the OP was referring to.

 

[dayzofspeed]

thanks ianho, i must have misunderstood radar's post, the flowerbuds are now obviously underwater but had grown originally when the plant was not fully submerged. i've cut them off now anyway in order to help the plants establish themselves by not concentrating their efforts into the flowerbuds, btw are these plants suitable for low light conditions and are they root feeders like their larger cousins?

 

[ian]

IME Pygmy chain swords don't stay that 'pygmy' for long. I have had some in my main tank for about 8 months now and they are about 15-20 cm high. This is why i always ward off people using them as a foreground 'carpeting' plant. They will eventually change shape as well, after being submerged. They will look more like a thick vallis. They do OK in low light, they just tend to grow a little slower.

 

[dayzofspeed]

thanks once again for the info ianho. i do have them as forground plants but it doesnt worry me if they get a little bigger, as i'm not really looking for a pure low carpeting effect, gave up on yhat idea quite a while back as it seems to involve quite a lot of maintenance to do properly. hopefully they will spread out tho