[CatB]

maybe i'm remarkably ignorant, and don't understand how java fern propagates, but what are these? i found them growing on the backs of my java fern, sometimes strangling the leaves with their "roots" or whatever they are, so i've plucked most of them off, without much difficulty. they started as root-things and then developed leaves.

(sorry for the crap photo quality, shaky hands + bad ipod camera = really not great)
if they're not java fern, what are they? they only grow on my java ferns...
and if they ARE java fern, what do i do with them? do i let them grow on the ferns, or do i pluck them off and plant them?

thanks in advance, and sorry for the probably stupid question...
-cat

 

[gordonrichards]

Baby Javaferns :^)

They grow off the leaves like that when submerged.

If allowed to grow emerged, they drop spore instead.

-Gordon

 

[CatB]

Baby Javaferns :^)

They grow off the leaves like that when submerged.

If allowed to grow emerged, they drop spore instead.

-Gordon

okay xD.
the idea of parasite plants was scary anyways...
so, what do i do with them? pull them and plant them like i would a big fern? or do they fall off after a while? they're growing like weeds

 

[gordonrichards]

You can let them sit there, roots will form and they will be ready to pull off. I have some needle fern that just keeps splitting like that. Some rhizomes fully develop off splits,Weirdness! If its doing that then you've got great parameters in your tank. Keep it up!

-Gordon

 

[CatB]

You can let them sit there, roots will form and they will be ready to pull off. I have some needle fern that just keeps splitting like that. Some rhizomes fully develop off splits,Weirdness! If its doing that then you've got great parameters in your tank. Keep it up!

-Gordon

what's a good rule of thumb for pulling them off? when they have both roots and good-sized leaves, like the ones in the photo i took, or were those too young to pull?
this is super cool! i'm glad my parameters are good for java fern.
actually, i read before that java fern responds positively to a little bit of salt in the tank, and i do add a little bit (about 1/2 teaspoon per the whole ~4 gallon tank) to prevent fish diseases... could that be why they're making fernlets for me? or is it just sheer luck?

thanks a ton for your help

 

[Psionic]

Recently one of mine had 11 babies growing off the leaves lol. I plucked them all off since my leaf was just starting to get spots. I then tied some of them down onto my driftwood with fishing line.


-Val

 

[daworldisblack]

If its doing that then you've got great parameters in your tank. Keep it up!

What would be these parameters? I have needle-leaved ones as well that a growing slooow lol

 

[CatB]

Recently one of mine had 11 babies growing off the leaves lol. I plucked them all off since my leaf was just starting to get spots. I then tied some of them down onto my driftwood with fishing line.


-Val

so the babies cause spots? i noticed that my ferns had spots that went away when i plucked the fernlets off :l. makes sense now!

 

[CatB]

What would be these parameters? I have needle-leaved ones as well that a growing slooow lol

my params?
uhh...
ammonia = between 0 and .25 PPM (my test kit is fickle and likes to confuse me with similar color readings)
nitrIte = 0 PPM
nitrAte = between 10 and 20... or 20 and 30 PPM, 5 PPM is in my tap water.

i do have roughly half a tablespoon of deiodized table salt (only de-caking agent is calcium silicate) in my ~4.5 gallons.
lighting is from a 6500K, 13 watt CFL positionead between 4 and 5 inches above the water surface, in the middle of the tank (babymaking java ferns are spread throughout the tank)
the temperature in the tank temains between 73 and 75 degrees F.
i do have DIY CO2, but my ferns were babymaking before i set it up.

my pH from the tap is about 8 after sitting out, my pH from the tank before CO2 was about 8.2. after CO2, the pH is at roughly 7.5, between the 7.4 and 7.6 color readings.
i don't know my KH or GH, or readings for specific dissolved minerals in the water, like iron or potassium, but i'm under the impression they're all pretty high, we have city water that loves to leave hard water stains, and is good about buffering (i top off with distilled water and the pH never changes)

LOOOONG post, hope it helps someone!