Trimming Freshwater Plants

[Ruan]

Edumacate me on all things green and bushy so I may make them not-so bushy once more.

The two weeks of CO2 in the Nano has caused a plant explosion.

I need some tip and advice on trimming plants without damaging them.


TA
Ruan

Oh yes, the plants are:
-Amazon Swords
-Brazillian Micro Swords
-Vallis
-Hairgrass
-Hornwart

[Kel-Sol]

Hornwort is a savage so you can just cut it at the internode (stalk between the leaves) with some scissors and it'll just keep on growing.
Vallis: you cut it along the runners (I cut as close to the base of the plant as I can so there isn't a random piece of runner floating around) but you shouldn't really trim the leaves. I just let the leaves keep on growing along the water surface.
Amazon sword: trim the ugly leaves (on the outside of the plant) as close to the crown of the plant as possible. You can also split the base to make two if it's big enough.
The others I'm not sure about.
I've trimmed my plants like this and they have carried on growing like crazy. Just make sure the scissors you use are sharp (I just use kitchen scissors but I'm sure there are members out there who are much more technical than that!)

Happy gardening... Kelly

[shihr]

hair grass trim like grass..

most leafy plants, trim leaves off from the bottom of the stem to avoid leaving ugly stems

stem plants, cut to apropriate height..

just rem, dont cut massive amouts all at once.. the plant may not be able to recover and may die..

Kel-sol gave a good explanation..

[Ruan]

Thank you for the info, will get stuck into this later tonight. I'll report back tomorrow

[Q89]

hair grass trim like grass..


With a lawnmower?

LOL, I know it does not help, just had to ask that!!:D

[TroyFish]

If you cut the hairs grass does it all just float around? Is it hard to remove?

Or do you 'pinch' the top, cut and remove? Never trimmed hairgrass before.

[shihr]

trim with scissors.. and yes it'll float around.. a nice trick is to, do a siphon with a pipe during a water change, and as u cut, suck up the cut pieces..

watchout for fish now :o

[Kel-Sol]

trim with scissors.. and yes it'll float around.. a nice trick is to, do a siphon with a pipe during a water change, and as u cut, suck up the cut pieces..

watchout for fish now :o

My betta has been sucked in my gravel vac before cause he liked to swim around the vac while I was busy. You can also use a fish net to clear the debris like you do with the pool. Thats what I do.