What exactly is a rhizome?

[gale]

I have some dwarf anubias in both of my tanks. I just read that I shouldn't bury the rhizome. What exactly, in dummy terms, is the rhizome? Is it the part just under the stems where all the roots join to the plant? Because if so I need to unbury it quick. So what does get buried, just the long root thingies?

Also another site said to propogate by splitting the rhizome. Does that basically mean cut the plant in half??

 

[opiesilver]

Yes and yes to both questions. The rhizome will rot if buried.

 

[opiesilver]

And yes to the third question also. You can split them if you have at a minimum of 3 leaves per each section of rhizome you want to split. You want to have 3 leaves on each section. Just take a sharp knife and cut it.

 

[lucky62]

I have some dwarf anubias in both of my tanks. I just read that I shouldn't bury the rhizome. What exactly, in dummy terms, is the rhizome? Is it the part just under the stems where all the roots join to the plant? Because if so I need to unbury it quick. So what does get buried, just the long root thingies?

Also another site said to propogate by splitting the rhizome. Does that basically mean cut the plant in half??

That's it exactly .

If you bury , then just the roots , or you can attach your anubia to a rock or a piece of ....just about anything with Cotton string or rubber bands for example , and over time , sometimes a long time the roots will grow onto that surface .
I leave many of mine unattached , and out of the substrate.
The nutrients are taken from the water as well as the substrate .

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Rhizome: Horizontal growing systems under or partly underground which may be slender and quick-growing or fleshy and acting as a storage organ.

Something I got out of some plants book.

 

[lucky62]

Something I got out of some plants book.

but very accurate .

 

[gale]

Thanks everyone. I put my long fork thingy in there and took the gravel from around the rhizome. Now just the long roots are in the gravel. I'll wait until summer or so to divide it so that it gets some more leaves-I have read it's slow growing. I might try tying some to my driftwood too.

 

[lucky62]

Thanks everyone. I put my long fork thingy in there and took the gravel from around the rhizome. Now just the long roots are in the gravel. I'll wait until summer or so to divide it so that it gets some more leaves-I have read it's slow growing. I might try tying some to my driftwood too.

They do grow slow , and are subject to becoming covered wth algae as well .

 

[Lateral Line]

Almost all of the Anubias species are slow growing, but then, they are usually kept at low light levels, I think they would almost grow in the dark.