Cutting Chain Sword runners

[Orion]

I have two Chain Swords (Echinodorus tenellus) in my 20 long and one has some runners with plantlets on it. The biggest of the plantlets stands about 2in hing and has a pretty good root system on it for such a small plant.

Question is how soon should I cut the plantlet from the parent plant, or should I? I have only had them for two weeks, so I was thinking I should give them at least another 2 before I make any change just to make sure they have established themselves properly.

 

[Avalon]

As soon as you wish. The longer you let the plant grow, the faster it will spread. If you do replant the plantlets, they will re-establish and begin sending out runners.

Clipping and replanting is good for creating a dense cover quickly, but if left alone, it will only take longer to reach the same effect.

I have this lining the bottom of my cichlid tank. I can't uproot one without uprooting 5 more along with it!

 

[geKo]

Originally posted by Avalon
I can't uproot one without uprooting 5 more along with it!

Same here lol but i love the carpet they can make after about 3 months my whole 10gal is covered but i also started with a lot more. About $20 of it i bought and planted big bunches about 1" apart from each other

 

[Orion]

Thanks guys. I have heard that it is one of the easiest carpet plants to work with. I like the look of just the too that I have in right now, so I will deffinatly get some more to put in my tank.

Plus my wife loves the little runners. She says that they are so cute! LOL

 

[Orion]

Cut the plantlets the other day, 2 of them off of the same sword, and two more plantlets have taken there place! At this rate its not going to take long to have a nice abundance of them. Quick growing little buggers I must say.

 

[adamj]

mail some to me!

 

[Orion]

hehe, let me get a few more decent size plantlets going and i will more than happy too

 

[Orion]

Off of the original subject

Well last saturday morn, i cut two plantlets off of one of my chain swords, and already there are about three decent size plantlets that have taken the place of the ones cut! Quick little guys!

Obviously it is growing well for it would not be sending out runners, but when I bought the parent plants they did have a few yellow, and brown leaves. So far the leaves have shown no sings of getting worse, but also not getting better. One plant has two stems of blooms, should I cut these off to provide more nutrients for the plant, or will it be fine on its own.

Not too worried about the growth as it seems to be doing ok, just tring to get the most out of what I have. ( Plus it looks like Im going to have to start supplying adamj, so Im going to need as many as I can get!! LOL)

 

[mann]

Re: Off of the original subject

Originally posted by Orion
Obviously it is growing well for it would not be sending out runners, but when I bought the parent plants they did have a few yellow, and brown leaves. So far the leaves have shown no sings of getting worse, but also not getting better.

I have this same situation going with some of my Dwarf Sag. Parent plants look terrible, lots of yellowed and stringy leaves mostly shredded. But the runners they put out are great and they do it prolifically. I guess when some of those newer plants start to mature I'll remove plant 0. In the meantime I suppose I'll have to be happy with the fact that it spends all it's energy towards the runners as opposed to repairing itself.

 

[Orion]

True, this makes me wonder what the normal life is for the chain sword. Mabey once it reaches a certian age, it sends out runners like crazy, then once it has sent out enough to ensure its genes will carry on, the plant just up and dies?

Dunno myself, can anyone add anything?

 

[adamj]

its propagation of the species, howevever its technicaly the same plant when you think about it.

 

[Orion]

Hehe, clone plants.