Water Sprite stem rotted when planted in substrate

[jbreyy]

I bought a 2ft tall water sprite plants at the LFS. It was about five stems on one root structure. The bottom foot of the stem had no leaves on it, so i cut all the stems an inch or so below the leaves. I put root tabs in the flourite, CO2, ferts, etc. The stems turned brown at the bottom, but new roots were growing from higher on the stems. I cut off the brown parts and now they are all floating. What should I do with them?

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi jbreyy,

Watersprite (Ceratopteris) is a crown plant, not a stem plant. You need to plant the crown with the roots; I have never had a single stem of watersprite grow for me when I planted it.

That said all may not be lost. If you float the leaves on a reasonably calm surface, small 'baby plantlets' may form in a week or two and when the plantlets have a few leaves and roots they can be planted.

[Trickerie]

Id first ensure its watersprite and not water wisteria, I see them called incorrect names.

[AquaPipes]

With water sprite, if you cut the stems, the bottom portion will die. The top portion may continue to live on its own.

I've found the "oak leaf" variety does best planted, and the "indian lace" variety does best planted.

[Soujirou]

Originally Posted by jbreyy

The stems turned brown at the bottom, but new roots were growing from higher on the stems.

Cut the stems below the roots and plant them in the substrate. Typically anything that is not between a node will die. However it can always recover roots or new stems at the nodes.

[wkndracer]

Originally Posted by Trickerie

Id first ensure its watersprite and not water wisteria, I see them called incorrect names.

I'm guilty of this and with the sprite having two varieties doesn't help either with the narrow leaf looking a lot like wisteria.

That aside aren't both crown plants?

[jbreyy]

I'm sure it's water sprite cause I have wisteria also. And water spite is a crown plant, but wisteria is not. Is there any hope for any of my stems to form a new crown, or should I just throw them away?