Should I Or Shouldn't I

[carpking]

Hi All

just a quick one.

My anubias plants have gone root crazy will it harm the plants if i trim these roots? i guess the question goes for the same on my amazon swords.

Thanks in advance

 

[Llegmore]

I'd advise only trimming them when moving the plants or attaching them to a new surface. For plants with a rhizome, roots are very important and, although different plants react differently to root trimming, you might stop growth in the actual plant completely or even kill it. Maybe you could try weaving the roots around whatever piece of wood or stone they're attached to? I've never tried trimming anubias or amazon sword roots, but I did once attempt it with my java fern and it nearly killed it, so I'd definitely say don't do it.

 

[levahe]

I trim the roots on my anubais quite often when they get too long an straggly, as for Amazon swords the large root systems on these are beneficial, but swords can get very big so its not a bad thing to uproot them and trim it right back to stop it taking over your tank

 

[BerryAttack]

you can braid the roots.. looks cool when you put a neat design with them.. also if it a little trim here and there i would not see and issue, meaning you are only taking 1-3cm off.. not inches.
for the sword.. i wouldn't recommend doing this, if you have issues with the roots then you can add a separator in the substrate to stop them from growing in that direction.. and also make sure the substrate is deep to prevent this.