Saving Amazon Sword

[Schmill]

Well, I recently had a load of plants shipped to me, including some Amazon Sword.
The Amazon Sword, being probably the biggest leafed plant of the bunch seems to have suffered some bruising and squashing in transit, and as such is looking a bit sorry for itself.
I removed any BAD leaves (on Saturday) by following the leaf down to wear it joined the plant, and then pulling / snapping it away from the base.
I've also dosed with JBL's liquid fert, and placed JBL nutrient clay ball in the gravel, (neither of which contain N or P incidently )

Looking at it again today I can see yet more areas of leaves that looked damaged, and are browning, or dark green.
How many leaves can you removed from the plant and have it recover? or more to the point how many leaves do you need to leave on it?

Pictures below, (Tank lights were off, so camera flash may have washed the photos out a bit, but hopefully you can see the problems):

Thanks

 

[MHunt]

It'll probably be ok, what it looses from the old leaves, new should grow in their place. I have found these plants love a soil substrate. The roots just shoot out through the soil and within a few months they'll have a vast root structure and consequently the plant itself should be thriving. Bit late if you haven't got one in the tank already, but the root ferts should help.

 

[Schmill]

Yeah, was going to try a sub-substrate of aquatic compost, but time didn't allow. Should I just keep removing the dying leaves then, perhaps just a couple of the worst offenders each day rather than all at once?

 

[MHunt]

Yeah, see how it goes. Amason swords are pretty hardy and easy to grow plants so as long as the majority of it is intact you should be ok.

 

[Schmill]

The 'majority' of it being basically just leaves and a few weedy roots?
I'll keep my fingers crossed then & keep up with the liquid ferts, cheers

 

[SuperColey1]

I would take all but the healthiest leaves off until you see no more problems. It will encourage growth and the plant won't be wasting energy feeding leaves that are just dying. Also will stop localised ammonia (leeched from the dying leaves) from triggering algae outbreaks.

Continue taking the leaves off until the plant is either healthy or maybe have to condcede that it is not saveable (give it time though)

AC

 

[aaronnorth]

Plants are ok as long as they have white roots as this still shows signs of life.

 

[Schmill]

Thanks both, I'll be a bit more savage with the leaves then, and keep my fingers crossed, thanks