Root Tabs.

[Qays]

What do you put in root tabs? There is this wool stuff (earth wool or somthing) that you wrap around the plant, but is this the material which should be used?

(bear in mind, i dont have Gravel fertalizer stuff)

 

[Themuleous]

Root tabs are basically small and hard 'rocks' of fertiliser that you push under plants. You dont make them yourself but by them ready made. The wool stuff you see around pot grown plants I dont think has any nutrient value to speak of it, just gives the plants something to root into during propegation.

 

[NAL]

Yep-the stuff around them is just mineral wool. Really just a nice medium for the cuttings and small plants to strike in before shipping on.

Roots tabs are an excellent way to supplement heavy root feeders such as Echinodorous or Crypts, which can be very demanding on the substrates. Both I've found respond very well to them. A very good brand are the Ferka ones, which you can buy at Aquaessentials. I've used both Stemma and Rosetta (stem and rosette plants respectively) and they are excellent value and give good results. I've also used Dennerle's E15 as a root tab as well as Seachems tabs. I'd recommend them for use even in plant-specific substrates.

Nick

 

[Qays]

I was thinking of getting an amazon sword.

but that needs nutrient rich substrate, so i wanted to go with root tabs.

Do lfs's sell this stuff?

I have this small aquarium pot which plants go in, is this the thing i put the rock thing your talking about?

Whats the real word for the rock fertaliser?

 

[Themuleous]

sorry I've confused you, by 'rock' thing I mean the root tabs, the seachem ones just look like mini rocks thats all sorry my fault.

If you want swords, plant them as normal in the substrate then push a single root tab under each, its as simple as that. You dont need pots or anything else. Just add another root tab in 3/4 months as the old one will have run out by then.

Most LFS should sell them, or you can get them from www.aquaessentials.co.uk.

Sam

EDIT - also dont worry that you've not got a nutrient rish substrate, thats what the root tabs do, they save you having to add one

 

[Qays]

thanks Sam!

I will look for them.

I like to keep them in pots because im always moving the gravel! (or will the roots take hold of it?)

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Most aquatic nurseries heavily impregnate the rock wool with fertilizers to speed plant growth. New plants should be removed from the plastic pot and as much of the wool should be removed prior to planting. Remove it gently trying to minimize the damage to the roots. If the plant appears root bound, then cut some of the roots to promote new growth.

 

[Bloo]

I use JBL Ferrotabs. Once every couple of months or so I just push one under the roots of each plant The little pot of tabs will last a very long time.

They sell a whole range of root tabs

 

[Qays]

Cool, do the plant roots grab hold of it? what if the rock moves?