[oheresy]

I planted HC a while back, then had a bad case of string/hair algae. A lot of the HC got uprooted and is now acting like a floating plant. It's doing great as a floating plant, except that in about a week and a half it covers the whole top of the tank and I have to get rid of most of it.

Is there a way to get it to re-root to the substrate? Any suggestions?

 

[Philosophos]

Do its re-rooting emersed in a dry start tank. You could also try attaching it to rock wool, then planting plugs of it.

-Philosophos

 

[stuckintexas]

if its already acclimated to growing submersed then maybe keeping it in the tank is the quickest way, instead of doing the above mentioned emersed growing. just a thought. i wonder if putting a netting on a rock like people do with riccia/moss would work?

 

[Philosophos]

If it's floating it will be emersed already, and has likely developed the xylem to go with it. If you immerse it, you'll cause it to melt and then re-grow, which is just ugly considering how hard it is to get free floating HC to attach in an immersed setting anyhow.

-Philosophos

 

[yikesjason]

Does it mat together or are they individual plants floating separately?

 

[Makoto]

Go to your local Beauty Salon and buy a pack of hair pins, they do great at holding down HC, trust me it's the best thing you ever could use, works like a charm...or you could ask your girl friend for some:red_mouth.

 

[oheresy]

They clump together, but easily move apart.

Makoto, what kind of hair pins?

 

[yikesjason]

If you are throwing away hc all of the time, I wouldn't mind paying for shipping to try to get some to take root in one of my tanks.

 

[Makoto]

They clump together, but easily move apart.

Makoto, what kind of hair pins?

 

[oheresy]

If you are throwing away hc all of the time, I wouldn't mind paying for shipping to try to get some to take root in one of my tanks.

Jason, I'll have plenty to send you in the next week or two. I'll let you know. :icon_smil

 

[oheresy]

Here's a couple photos of the HC. It's really thriving floating.

Here's a photo after about 3 days:

Here's a few photos after a week:

All this floating at the top of my 26 gal bow front tank.

 

[leaf]

Looks like duckweed to me! I have a love/hate relationship with that stuff.

 

[oheresy]

Hmm...You're right. It does look like duckweed at closer look. Guess I show my noobness.

 

[leaf]

Would've been sweet if you actually got a duckweed carpet. I think I tried it one time and since leaves develop first, then roots, it could not genetically perform this function.