Java Fern

[Reedfish]

Hi All,

I have had Java Fern in my tank for a year now.
All it does it produce masses of roots (most of which don't attach to the wood) and very little leaves.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Reedfish

10473

[azurekoi]

Sorry dude - thats a new one for me... but lets ask the questions: Do you dose Ferts? What light/lighting period? Was the plant "normal" when yougot/bought it... Ever dose any organophosphate in your tank? tried breaking off a piece and tried growing it somewhere else?

That root mass is weird to me - I be thinking mutation actualy....weird!

[Reedfish]

azurekoi
I do use ferts, a JBL product, the name escapes me at the moment. Dose as per the instructions of once a week.
Lighting period = 12 hours
It did look "normal". Well it was a small piece. The stolons have increased, the roots sure have increased. But not the leaves.

[Mzungu]

I would look at nutrient levels, as the plant may be trying to tap into more nutrients(due to lack of) by growing roots?
Also, you say the stolons have increased, has there been new leaves growing? Or has there been no foliar growth whatsoever?

[boebie]

Java fern appreciates good water flow, is it perhaps in a 'dead spot'. I'm growing loads in my 'Java fern Nano'.

[Reedfish]

Java fern appreciates good water flow, is it perhaps in a 'dead spot'. I'm growing loads in my 'Java fern Nano'.

I shouldn't think it's in a "dead spot". That's the filter outflow you can see behind the piece of wood that it is attached on.

[oscar freak]

iv got a similar problem in that mine is not growing as well.i have 2 t8s which i would run for 10-12 hours a day thinking it classifies as low light while dosing tetra plant =java fern growing in reverse,tried that diy co2=diasaster BBA,now iv cut down the photo period to 4 hours a day,dosing seachem excel and flourish+tetra thingie and now its got some green good looking leaves.i live in hope

[Reedfish]

oscar freak - I have always been led to beleive that Java Fern is low maintenance so doesn't need CO2 or high light levels.

[Anine]

what happens when you trim the roots back, and then lightly nick the rhizome in a couple of spots? force the plant to concentrate on leaves, not roots :)

[oscar freak]

thats what i also heard and maybe the lights being on so long is why they would turn black,but i would hardly consider my lighting situation "too much" that it burns the plants cause the anubia is doing fine.

[Anine]

oscar freak, my tanks are both very low light (3-4 hour photoperiod) and most of my java fern's leaves have black spots/blotches. I dose flourish and flourish excel but the tanks are low flow since my centerpiece fish are gouramis and a betta

[oscar freak]

i have a bit of flow in my tank i added a powerhead for a bit more it didnt seem to help mind you there was nothing to flow thru,but as i said there are signs of growth i must just try and keep it going and to get rid of the BBA the excel is not helping there will try that crystal stuff zoom was talking about.also my vallis is unharmed by the excel.

[azurekoi]

Recently added a piece of java to a spot where it gets blasted by 6000l per hour of flow... Lighting is 1W/liter(Yes,you read right! delivered by T5's) and a photoperiod of 16 - 18 hours a day.... Excell daily and Flourish comprehensive twice weekly...

Amazingly - it has trippled its biomass in the 4 weeks or so since I have added it - leaves are three times longer and a lot of new ones....lol - Java can be a DANG funny plant some times...lol

[oscar freak]

Pics please azure let me see this,cause im having an uphill time with it,maybe i must increase the flow a bit more

[azurekoi]

Sure Athol...Will see what i can do when I get home...checked my pic library,and dont have one of it at the moment...

[Reedfish]

what happens when you trim the roots back, and then lightly nick the rhizome in a couple of spots? force the plant to concentrate on leaves, not roots :)

I have never trimmed the roots.
Do you think it is worth doing?

[Wyvren]

Reedfish, I would give it a try, just trim them a bit. I tend to trim all my new plants and even older plants if I replant them. Just the roots and the scraggly leaves tho. I havent tried the nicking the rhizome, but I think its a good idea. I know my mum does the same to her normal ferns and they go mad, she had at one time over 50 different species in the garden.

[Vez]

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myplants/4-Java_Fern_Microsorum_pteropus.html

[Reedfish]

@Reedfish (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=2081), I would give it a try, just trim them a bit. I tend to trim all my new plants and even older plants if I replant them. Just the roots and the scraggly leaves tho. I havent tried the nicking the rhizome, but I think its a good idea. I know my mum does the same to her normal ferns and they go mad, she had at one time over 50 different species in the garden.

Ok, well next time I take the bits of wood out (I take out all the wood once a month and do a rescape) I will trim the roots and see whaat happens.