How to trim stem plants?

**craftsman** · 6th Jan 2009, 17:08

Hi,
Have a newbie question on trimming stem plants. I have a bunch of Mayaca fluviatilis (as shown below)

I was preparing to trim them just by cutting from the top, but a friend tells me that I have to uproot the plant and trim the bottom before planting the plant again.

Which way is correct? Can someone please advise how I should go about? Many thanks for your advice!

Craftsman

**torque6** · 6th Jan 2009, 22:29

works the same way as this. With the exception to Rotala SP/indica for my 1FT.

http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B949-W.HTMl

**craftsman** · 6th Jan 2009, 22:40

So I don't need to uproot for every trim?

**torque6** · 6th Jan 2009, 22:41

Uproot ? well, i did uproot all my emmerse plants and replanted the top portion once they have started developing their submersed leaves; better adaptability.

**craftsman** · 6th Jan 2009, 22:43

OK. Noted. But not all the time right? I read that its only after a major trim?

**ghim** · 7th Jan 2009, 01:51

Most of my stem plants, I will trim the top. And plant some of the cut plants, to create the mass.

Just did some trimming 2 days ago.

What I did was cutting and replanting those on the right. As all of them are touching the water surface.

**StanChung** · 7th Jan 2009, 04:24

Hi Craftsman,
When you trim, you may throw away or replant the tips. In your case you have only a few strands so plant nearby to get a bushy thicket. Each time you trim, you will notice the trimmed part putting out side shoots. This is a way to get a nice and bushy thicket.

You should always trim below the hardscape level and slope upwards to the back and create a shape based on your aquascape.

**craftsman** · 7th Jan 2009, 06:45

Originally Posted by ghim

Most of my stem plants, I will trim the top. And plant some of the cut plants, to create the mass.

Just did some trimming 2 days ago.

What I did was cutting and replanting those on the right. As all of them are touching the water surface.

Thanks Ghim! Your advice is similar to Stans and torque.

Will be trimming tonight.

Originally Posted by StanChung

Hi Craftsman,
When you trim, you may throw away or replant the tips. In your case you have only a few strands so plant nearby to get a bushy thicket. Each time you trim, you will notice the trimmed part putting out side shoots. This is a way to get a nice and bushy thicket.

You should always trim below the hardscape level and slope upwards to the back and create a shape based on your aquascape.

Hi Stan,
My tank about 3 to 4 days ago. Some of the background plants are already touching the top. Like you said, I'm going to have to trim them soon. Was thinking of trimming the tops, and replanting the tops as you said, but the advice from one of my friends confused me, so wanted to check here first. Glad you came along.

Thanks!

**medicineman** · 7th Jan 2009, 09:24

Ah, myriophyllyum!

You may have to cope with weekly trimming as the plant is quite a weed.
Dont let them bend over and shadow your foreground.

**craftsman** · 7th Jan 2009, 09:51

Originally Posted by medicineman

Ah, myriophyllyum!

You may have to cope with weekly trimming as the plant is quite a weed.
Dont let them bend over and shadow your foreground.

Ha ha... yeah.. tell me about it. They are growing like 1 to 2 cm every day!!!

**beetroot** · 7th Jan 2009, 13:39

mine's bending over

, was wondering how to trim too. one broke when it was bought, and side shoots came out.
thanks for having this thread.

**StanChung** · 7th Jan 2009, 15:05

Hi Craftsman,

You would need another 2 trimmings in my estimation to get a nice bushy growth and you are doing the right thing to replant the tips. Once the area is saturated you can start selling the tips. [some for exchange or planting emersed-up to you]

I used the brown colour Myriophyllum tuberculatum for one of my 'Sleepy Hollow' scapes in the past.

I think the Vallis is out of place. It can grow to 6ft long. Even Vallis nana can reach 4ft.

**fireblade** · 7th Jan 2009, 17:06

what I think is cut it real low so that new shoots will grow out , then you have long cuttings, then half the long cuttings and plant everything.
recently got some rotala , I sectioned it into 3 parts and plant... one is the roots portion which is really low, then the middle section and then the top section.

can see from here...
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...t=47209&page=2
now they are taller liao..

**craftsman** · 7th Jan 2009, 17:17

Originally Posted by StanChung

Hi Craftsman,

You would need another 2 trimmings in my estimation to get a nice bushy growth and you are doing the right thing to replant the tips. Once the area is saturated you can start selling the tips. [some for exchange or planting emersed-up to you]

I used the brown colour Myriophyllum tuberculatum for one of my 'Sleepy Hollow' scapes in the past.

I think the Vallis is out of place. It can grow to 6ft long. Even Vallis nana can reach 4ft.

OK. Thanks Stan. Let me look at how everything becomes in the next few weeks.

If the Vallis grows too high, I'll move it. The chap at the farm told me they wouldn't grow beyond a certain height. Hmmm

**craftsman** · 7th Jan 2009, 17:19

Originally Posted by fireblade

what I think is cut it real low so that new shoots will grow out , then you have long cuttings, then half the long cuttings and plant everything.
recently got some rotala , I sectioned it into 3 parts and plant... one is the roots portion which is really low, then the middle section and then the top section.

can see from here...
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...t=47209&page=2
now they are taller liao..

Thanks bro. Hows your tank working out now? Your wood still leaking tannins?

**fireblade** · 7th Jan 2009, 17:21

not as bad now..

will try to update with some photos..

**StanChung** · 7th Jan 2009, 17:30

Originally Posted by craftsman

The chap at the farm told me they wouldn't grow beyond a certain height. Hmmm

He's right! It will reach the height of your tank of course max, but continue to grow right round the topside according to the flow of the water.

That chap has never seen a 6ft long Vallis. Probably sells them too quickly before it gets a chance to grow to that size.

edit: The mini twister type that supposedly doesn't grow could be a misleading. I mean if you give it water condition it doesn't like like softwater it may not grow well.

You can read more here vallis types
The article claims mini twister vallis is to be grown midground and reaches only 15cm.
That would be interesting as the article mentioned it comes from Oriental Farm in Singapore. It looks identical to Vallisneria tortifolia that from experience grows as big as Vallisneria spiralis so it could be a mistake on my part.

The information on vallis nana length is incorrect by 20-30%. The info there says [30-80cm] I've personally grown it 3.5ft long.[100cm+]-longer if I didn't rip it all out! Amano has his grown ~4ft 120cm+ as seen in his big tank.[almost reaching the top of his 150cm tall tank.]