Controlling roots on stem plants

MrAlmostWrong · 11-22-2012, 12:25 AM

I'm lucky enough to have a 20g long that grows plants like crazy. The majority of the tank is stem plants (wisteria and ludwigia) and the problem I'm having is that the plants have grown so many stem 'roots' that I think its impossible for my rasboras to swim through so they are being relegated to a small section of the tank. I'll probably have to take the plants out and do some trimming, but after that is there anything I can do to discourage this kind of growth?

HD Blazingwolf · 11-22-2012, 12:41 AM

nope, its natural.. having a rich acidic substrate "helps" but healthy stem plants will constantly try and grow roots about halfway up

Jules · 11-25-2012, 06:56 PM

Also some stems are more prone to this than others, so you might want to try out some different plants.

IME, L. repens is one of the worst offenders in this regard, being particularly enthusiastic about sending big bushy roots out all over the place - I find Hygro and Bacopa somewhat more restrained.

11-22-2012, 12:25 AM	#1
MrAlmostWrong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 61	Controlling roots on stem plants I'm lucky enough to have a 20g long that grows plants like crazy. The majority of the tank is stem plants (wisteria and ludwigia) and the problem I'm having is that the plants have grown so many stem 'roots' that I think its impossible for my rasboras to swim through so they are being relegated to a small section of the tank. I'll probably have to take the plants out and do some trimming, but after that is there anything I can do to discourage this kind of growth?

11-22-2012, 12:41 AM	#2
HD Blazingwolf Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 4,715	nope, its natural.. having a rich acidic substrate "helps" but healthy stem plants will constantly try and grow roots about halfway up __________________ Sump Pimp #7 75G Rainbowfish Journal

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11-25-2012, 06:56 PM	#3
Jules Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 169	Also some stems are more prone to this than others, so you might want to try out some different plants. IME, L. repens is one of the worst offenders in this regard, being particularly enthusiastic about sending big bushy roots out all over the place - I find Hygro and Bacopa somewhat more restrained.