Need help tieing ferns to driftwood

Blackeyes · 07-20-2006, 10:45 PM

I ask this question because i really dont know how to do tie ferns to driftwood. Ive seen it a lot. Me being a noob planted to rhizome, without looking up the specifics. So if some one could please help and pointers it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

JenThePlantGeek · 07-20-2006, 10:51 PM

I'm sure there are ways to do it with thread or fishing line or any number of things, but what I do is almost cheating...

If the rhysome is not too thick, I take a staple gun, some really long staples, and just staple it onto there. Do one or two test staples to see how far the staple goes into the wood. Sometimes if it goes too far in you have to put something stiff (I use a screwdriver blade) under the staple, and then slip in the rhyzome. The staples will rust over and blend right in - it is quick and easy and doesn't hurt anything.

cbennett · 07-20-2006, 11:19 PM

I just use a dot or two of superglue to attach the rhizome of anubias and ferns to driftwood, pots, tank equipment, etc. Works great!

**Hoppy** · 07-21-2006, 12:45 AM

I use one of the rubber bands I save from my newspaper delivery. Works like a charm, and I just snip the band a few weeks later and it falls off.

guaiac_boy · 07-21-2006, 05:38 AM

I forcefully enlist the help of my 10 yr old son to hold everything in place while I obsessively tie everything down surgeon-style using fishing line. This is of course done with hemostats, needle-drivers, and anything else I've been able to borrow from the OR at various times........

Huh. Never thought of using a rubber band. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Fishboy08 · 07-22-2006, 05:22 AM

Question regarding the rubber band:

If it is on there tight enough to hold the plant, wouldn't it be to tight for the roots to extend and grow??

mrbelvedere · 07-22-2006, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishboy08

Question regarding the rubber band:

If it is on there tight enough to hold the plant, wouldn't it be to tight for the roots to extend and grow??

Nope. But I use black cotton thread anyway.

Momotaro · 07-22-2006, 03:59 PM

I use the plastic coated wire twist ties, like the ones that come with garbage bags. You can buy them in a big roll at the hardware store, or you can get the brown colored ADA wire tie (Wood Tight) from ADG (http://www.adgshop.com/Wood_Tight_p/106-034.htm). I like the ties. They are wide and pretty darn easy to use. They have the potential to cut into the plant rhizome like thread.

I just tie the ferns or Anubias onto wood and leave them. After a month or so I clip the wire and am good to go.

Mike

**Hoppy** · 07-22-2006, 04:28 PM

It doesn't take much to keep the rhizome from floating up from the driftwood or the rock. So, I never have my rubber bands very tight, just enough to keep the rhizome from moving around. My Anubias nana petite attached to driftwood in about a week, as did my Java fern windelov. Right now I have some narrow leaf version of Java fern which is much slower to attach to a rock, so it is still rubber banded in place, and the rhizome is growing quickly.

Fishboy08 · 07-22-2006, 05:38 PM

Hmm.. Very interesting. I will keep this in mind. Right now I have my Anubias barteri attached to a little stone with fishing line. (this took forever to do, and by the end I was very pissed off..lol, so a new method will be good.) My Crypts are small enough that I could just plant them because they are so light, it doesn't take much to keep them in place.

07-20-2006, 10:45 PM	#1
Blackeyes Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: WSTCHSTR,IL Posts: 122	Need help tieing ferns to driftwood I ask this question because i really dont know how to do tie ferns to driftwood. Ive seen it a lot. Me being a noob planted to rhizome, without looking up the specifics. So if some one could please help and pointers it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Matt

07-20-2006, 10:51 PM	#2
JenThePlantGeek Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (36/100%) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,143	I'm sure there are ways to do it with thread or fishing line or any number of things, but what I do is almost cheating... If the rhysome is not too thick, I take a staple gun, some really long staples, and just staple it onto there. Do one or two test staples to see how far the staple goes into the wood. Sometimes if it goes too far in you have to put something stiff (I use a screwdriver blade) under the staple, and then slip in the rhyzome. The staples will rust over and blend right in - it is quick and easy and doesn't hurt anything. __________________ Circle City Aquarium Club (Indianapolis) - VP & Horticulture Awards Program Chair I <3 Eheim #195 Everyone seems normal... until you get to know them.

07-21-2006, 12:45 AM	#4
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,198	I use one of the rubber bands I save from my newspaper delivery. Works like a charm, and I just snip the band a few weeks later and it falls off. __________________ Hoppy

07-22-2006, 04:28 PM	#9
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,198	It doesn't take much to keep the rhizome from floating up from the driftwood or the rock. So, I never have my rubber bands very tight, just enough to keep the rhizome from moving around. My Anubias nana petite attached to driftwood in about a week, as did my Java fern windelov. Right now I have some narrow leaf version of Java fern which is much slower to attach to a rock, so it is still rubber banded in place, and the rhizome is growing quickly. __________________ Hoppy

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07-20-2006, 11:19 PM	#3
cbennett Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 786	I just use a dot or two of superglue to attach the rhizome of anubias and ferns to driftwood, pots, tank equipment, etc. Works great!

07-21-2006, 05:38 AM	#5
guaiac_boy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Burley, Idaho Posts: 300	I forcefully enlist the help of my 10 yr old son to hold everything in place while I obsessively tie everything down surgeon-style using fishing line. This is of course done with hemostats, needle-drivers, and anything else I've been able to borrow from the OR at various times........ Huh. Never thought of using a rubber band. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

07-22-2006, 05:22 AM	#6
Fishboy08 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 223	Question regarding the rubber band: If it is on there tight enough to hold the plant, wouldn't it be to tight for the roots to extend and grow??

07-22-2006, 03:59 PM	#8
Momotaro Doesn't like Kool-Aid (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hawthorne, New Jersey Posts: 10,108	I use the plastic coated wire twist ties, like the ones that come with garbage bags. You can buy them in a big roll at the hardware store, or you can get the brown colored ADA wire tie (Wood Tight) from ADG (http://www.adgshop.com/Wood_Tight_p/106-034.htm). I like the ties. They are wide and pretty darn easy to use. They have the potential to cut into the plant rhizome like thread. I just tie the ferns or Anubias onto wood and leave them. After a month or so I clip the wire and am good to go. Mike

07-22-2006, 05:38 PM	#10
Fishboy08 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 223	Hmm.. Very interesting. I will keep this in mind. Right now I have my Anubias barteri attached to a little stone with fishing line. (this took forever to do, and by the end I was very pissed off..lol, so a new method will be good.) My Crypts are small enough that I could just plant them because they are so light, it doesn't take much to keep them in place.