Trimming plants

[KeddyPie]

I have a 1 month old vallis hybrid plant. (6-8 inch stems, with 6-10 inch leafs about an inch wide). It doesn't have many leaves, ad the leaves are very weak... I was thinking about chopping off ALL the leaves and just leaving the stems, all about 1-2 inches long... Not POSOTIVE what I'm trying to accomplish. I have this crazy belief that cutting off the leafs will cause all the plants energy to STOP going to the growing/maintaining of leafs and it might grow some more stems, or grow back slower and stronger. I know my wisteria bush outside behaves by these rules

So, my question: What will cutting off the leaves and only leaving stubby stems cause, if anything? And will my plants SURVIVE this torment? Replies appreciated, I was thinking about doing it this weekend or even tonight, because I'm tired of the leaves ripping into little bits just from me doing water changes or the Dojos swimming by it too fast! I do not use any fertilizers, but my plants all seem to grow very fast and healthy, from what I believe is the natural light my aquarium gets durin the day (and not just an overhead light)

PS: I know a lot of people don't like tanks by windows. Only half the tank gets sun (that would be the planted half, my dears The temp stays managed, and I'm actually TRYING to get more algae to grow (as my Oto loves it but unfortunatly my tank doesn't seem to get much of it, besides a HUGE outbreak of hair algae that was COMPLETLY gone with no signs within 24 hours

 

[kenneth_kpe]

i wouldn't advice a complete butchering of the leaves just the weak and frail looking ones and yes some aquatic plants grow faster when trimmed grass plants are a fave example hehe ...umm i think

 

[Yenko]

It's best not to give vallis a haircut-style cut; you should pick out the least healthy looking leaves and cut them off at the base.