My Java Fern is freaakkinngg out!

[Adri.]

So I have this Java Fern in my Angelfish tank...No special lights or co2. I have at LEAST 16 baby plants growing off this thing...Might be closer to 18/19 because there's a couple where I can't tell if it's just a little fuzzy algae spot, or another baby plant...so I didn't count those!
I'm guessing this isn't normal, because I have another Java Fern in there that's thriving but has only given off one little baby plant. And this one that's giving me so many isn't even an old/big plant. It's young, only has about 15 or so leaves on it. Any idea why it's doing this? ...not that I'm complaining - I get free Java Ferns!

[P015]

Hey, I think my plant is doing the same thing. I had bought a java fern with 5 leaves on it and after a few weeks 1 of the leaves turned really dark and started growing baby plants all over it. Probably 20 or so smaller leaves coming off the initial larger leaf. I'm not sure why lol.

[greenman857]

Hmm that's interesting, I figured it was related to the age of the plant. Were the leaves that are growing plantlets ever emerged or close to the surface of the water? I wish I could figure out exactly you stimulate that growth. Here's a link to a plant I have, I'll bet yours looks like this.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ight=java+fern

[OVT]

That must be a female Java Fern Enjoy!

[dmagerl]

I've found when the plant is growing in less than ideal conditions, it tends to send off sprouts. Sort of like the plant putting all its energy into progeny in the hopes they will break off and end up somewhere with better conditions.

So dont look at this as a good thing.

[rodcuda]

I agree, I had an unhappy one do that.

[greenman857]

Well then that make sense that the older leaves that I had were producing plantlets b/c I would think that even in good conditions an older leaf would produce plantlets as it starts to senesce it would respond as if it has poor growing conditions.
And I guess the question is if poor conditions stimulate that growth, how long would they have to be subjected to those conditions in order to get that growth and then provide better parameters.
And in doing so would that stop the formation of the plantlets or at least stunt their growth or would they keep growing?
Enquiring minds want to know!

[Adri.]

Originally Posted by dmagerl

I've found when the plant is growing in less than ideal conditions, it tends to send off sprouts. Sort of like the plant putting all its energy into progeny in the hopes they will break off and end up somewhere with better conditions.

So dont look at this as a good thing.

The conditions are fine, every plant in that tank is doing well.

[Adri.]

Originally Posted by greenman857

Hmm that's interesting, I figured it was related to the age of the plant. Were the leaves that are growing plantlets ever emerged or close to the surface of the water? I wish I could figure out exactly you stimulate that growth. Here's a link to a plant I have, I'll bet yours looks like this.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ight=java+fern

Nope, these ones are at the bottom of the aquarium. Yours has so many, nice! Mine aren't that big yet.

Originally Posted by OVT

That must be a female Java Fern Enjoy!

I didn't know plants had genders..