[blueberry]

I got some java ferns a few months ago, plants came as separate leaves wraped together in a lead weight. so i plucked the plantlets off the leaves and planted them in the gravel with the only the roots in the gravel. well they aren’t growing very well.. the leaves are all curved down and inwards, in a spiral shape, brownish, or have the edges curved inwards. I started dosing some sera florena but my cherry shrimp don’t seem to like it..

 

[psalm18.2]

Java fern shouldn't be buried. The roots need to be in the water. Java is usually tied to driftwood, rocks, or decorations.

 

[PinoyBoy]

As long as the rhizome is out of the substrate, it's should do fine. My java fern's roots get really long and when I pull the plant out, its attached to small chunks of dw, the root has adhered to a lot of sand; as if it was rooting itself.

 

[blueberry]

ya, i made sure the rhizome was in the water. only the roots were buried

 

[blueberry]

so... what do I do about by ferns? i don't think i can keep dosing my ferts, because my cherrie shrimp refused to come out after dosing until i put some activated carbon in the tank to take the ferts out..

 

[houseofcards]

... plants came as separate leaves wraped together in a lead weight. so i plucked the plantlets off the leaves and planted them in the gravel with the only the roots in the gravel.

Is the rhizome above the gravel line? Are you familiar with java fern?

 

[jsuereth]

How high is your lighting and what type of substrate?

I havent dosed ferts, besides extra fish food, for months and its doing great. My substrate is flourite with root tabs from six months ago.

 

[blueberry]

yes the rhizomes are all above the gravel line, no Im not familiar with any aquatic plants

i just have 9 watt florescent (its kinda old), 5 gallon tank

and i just have normal blue coloured aquarium gravel

edit: and i have like 12 ferns in there

 

[PinoyBoy]

I'm not a fan of unnatural coloured substrates, but it doesn't matter for the java fern. I use tahitian moon sand, no nutrients what so ever. From what I've read and what I experienced, JF doesn't take in nutrients from the roots; if they do, then it would be very minimal. I cut all the roots of my JF before I tie them to rocks/dw. They still do great.

What are you dosing? How much?

 

[blueberry]

Im dosing about 12 drops of the stuff, that’s about 1.2 ml

its sera florena, and it says no nitrate or phosphorus contained in it

i think its just trace elements

I'v only dosed for a day or 2 though, but my shrimp all went into hiding after i dosed it

 

[blueberry]

anyone?

 

[psalm18.2]

I think your light is too low IMO. Try a higher watt or plant grow bulb. If you have a hood on your tank, they sell plant grow bulbs that will fit on both sides. I don't use any ferts and mine grows great.

 

[blueberry]

i though java ferns were really low light...

also i don't thnk my tank light can be replaced...

 

[jsuereth]

Im dosing about 12 drops of the stuff, that’s about 1.2 ml

its sera florena, and it says no nitrate or phosphorus contained in it

i think its just trace elements

I'v only dosed for a day or 2 though, but my shrimp all went into hiding after i dosed it

Try to find something with phosphorus. I had crazy algae problems when attempting to grow java fern solo in gravel substrate. Switching to flourite or other high cec substrate is definitely worthwhile, although temporarily stressful for fish.

 

[Disco Dan]

I was under the impression that Java Fern took in nutrients from the bog wood it is attached to through the roots.

Try raising the Fern closer to the surface - A large tall section of bog wood with ferns just below the surface on it do very well in my tank (high light though). They do appreciate co2 blown onto their leaves.

 

[lauraleellbp]

Could you post some pictures of them?

Where did you get them (bought from an LFS, here on the forum, online somewhere else)?

It may be that they're just still transitioning to your tank. Or they may have been killed in shipping, if they were mailed to you during a freeze, or they may have been grown emersed.... lots of different possibilities.

What's the bioload in your tank?

 

[houseofcards]

Even for java fern that 9watt bulb is incredibly weak and growth will be very slow. The existing leaves will probably not make it through the transition. I think your best bet is to cut off most of the existing leaves this will allow the plant to channel more energy to new leaves and allow more light to hit the rhizome.

 

[lauraleellbp]

I think your best bet is to cut off most of the existing leaves this will allow the plant to channel more energy to new leaves and allow more light to hit the rhizome.

I would agree with you... except the OP said there's only 1 leaf per rhizome (which is part of why I was questioning the source of the plants, b/c I personally wouldn't send out only one leaf on a rhizome...)

I think a 9 watt bulb may be OK for a 5gal tank if it's a tube or U-shaped bulb. Probably not if it's a spiral, though. And sounds like the bulb probably does need replacing.

 

[houseofcards]

I would agree with you... except the OP said there's only 1 leaf per rhizome (which is part of why I was questioning the source of the plants, b/c I personally wouldn't send out only one leaf on a rhizome...)

I think a 9 watt bulb may be OK for a 5gal tank if it's a tube or U-shaped bulb. Probably not if it's a spiral, though. And sounds like the bulb probably does need replacing.

I didn't see that. That first post is kinda confusing, but if the leaves are all brownish, if that is the case, I don't think they have any chance so I would still cut them all off and take my chances with just the rhizome. I did this a few times with Bolbitis and I grew some incredible pieces, but again that was with co2 and good light.

 

[blueberry]

oh, sorry for the confusion. it wasn't one leaf per rhizome, mostly it was just leaves with no rhizome, all the leaves had plenty of plant-lets on them, so I plucked just plucked the plant-lets off and planted them. they have been there for 4 months. it is still sprouting plenty of new leaves but they all grow and curl inwards and turn brownish after awhile. I bought it from my lfs, its called M&J aquarium if you happen to know it.

the bioload of my tank is very little. just 5 cherry shrimp and the other random bugs that grow(cyclops and stuff). i also have tons of algae but the algae isn't particularly green either.. i see plenty of poop floating around though

do you think putting some fish food in is enough for phosposus

i will try to take a pic tomorrow, because my tank light is off right now

i will also try to find a replacement bulb for my tank,
it is a U shaped one