Questions on java ferns

[yampeck]

Hi,

i have 2 qns abt java ferns...
first, why are all java ferns grown on driftwood instead of onto the gravel? any reason??

secondly, i have read of fellow forumers having narrow leave java ferns. but i have only seen 2 types. (1 with longer leaves and 1 with shorter leaves) which is the narrow leave type?

[michael lai]

Hi Yampeck,
There are about 3-4 types of java fern, narrow leaves are long and about 0.5-1cm in width whereas the normal ones are about 2-3 cm in width and 10-15cm in length. You don't plant them in the substrate because they can't flourish there, it will rot and die a slow death. It prefers to secure itself on wood or other surfaces with the roots expose. hope the info helps.

[|squee|]

This is the normal Java fern


This is Java fern Windelov.


This is Narrow Leaf Java fern, the one in the centre.


These three are the most common ones. There are other weird variants.

Java fern cannot have a buried rhizome because... it just dies if it's done that way . You can plant it in the gravel, just leave the rhizome exposed. The rhizome is the horizontal "stem" where where leaves all come out from.

[celticfish]

from my current understanding java fern gets the nutrients from the roots (the hairlike growths from the rhizome). but these roots are adapted for getting nutrients from the water column. so if you bury the rhizome you bury the roots hence starve the roots and the plant dies.

also, another point is to not cut off too much of the roots when you tie them to a piece of wood. their growth will be reduced dramatically.

can someone correct or confirm these points?

[|squee|]

I believe many plants we use in this hobby can absorb nutrients through the leaves and roots.

[lorba]

When you place the java fern near or on the gravel (rhizome exposed), the roots will eventually go deep into the gravel. You can "plant" java fern into the gravel by just inserting the roots, not the rhizome. This is same for plants like the anubias spp.

Roots of most/alll epiphytic plants will anchor themselves onto surfaces like rocks, wood, just about anything. Some grows "suction pores" which allows them to crawl instead of biting in to anchor.

[yampeck]

Thanks for all the info...

Cheers!