Sword Flowering?

[ChrisP]

Just been looking at one of my sword and it has grown a really long stem that is poking out the top of the water surface, it has a little pod on the end of it.

Is this the sword startgin to flower ir is it a runner? I would have thought if it was a runner it would have been accross the substrate...

 

[Bloo]

My runners always go up towards the surface - and from there spread out
Mine have never flowered (i'm not sure if that stems from the runners) - I've always cut the little plantlets off.

 

[ChrisP]

Ah cheers thanks sounds like a runner then! I was quite suprised to see it do this actually seen as I only planted it 2 weeks ago!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Many types of swords will do that in response to being replanted. Each node along the runner can become either a new baby plant or a flower. The determinging factor is if the node is submerged, it becomes a new plant but if it is exposed to air, it becomes a flower.

 

[ChrisP]

I guess I may get both then, the stem runs all the way from the plant out of the water, theres one little bud on the end out fo the water but there is also plenty on the stem leading up through the water.

Il see what they are like when I check my tank out next, hopefully there will be plantlets!