Advise on Amazon Sword

[newaquariumguy]

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to my questions, I have taken my tanks from "the guy" that walks into a lfs and comes out with tank and fish, (I actually bought 2), and now have 2 healthy aquariums. I do not agree with sales people that would recommend that. Man, I spent more time doing water changes and doing research than I did working. Combined, I have 43 fish. According to AqAdviser I am good on both tanks. Throughout the whole fish in cycling, I lost 3 fish. One Platy died having fry and I am convinced 2 Platies were sick when I bought them, they died within 3 days of purchase.

I have advanced to live plants. Within a couple weeks, they seem to be doing really well, to the point where I have 3 Amazon Swords "sending" out the funny little shoot that I am trying to figure out where to cut off in order to start new ones. My fault, but I have watched 30 or 40 youtube videos on how to do this--the camera is always out of focus or pointed somewhere else, or the person is talking to the skies instead of into the mike. I have decided that this forum is the best place to get advice.

Is anybody able to tell me when and where to cut them off so I do not harm the original plant--without a video?

Once again, thanks in advance, and I really appreciate all advice.

 

[tanker]

I usually wait till the "daughter" plant have leaves that are about an inch or so long. I trim as close to the mother plants as possible and then also remove the attached stem from the daughter. Plant the new sword and toss the stem

 

[newaquariumguy]

Ok--thanks, one plant has grown the stem, then above it, has grown another one--if that makes any sense? Right now the the leaves are about 1/4 inch on the bottom one and above that, another one has branched off with the leaves about 3/4 of an inch.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Do you have room for the amazon sword? I had one that filled in about half of a 55g tank.

 

[newaquariumguy]

Very good point Freshy Fresh. I have both a 55 and 60 gallon tank. The plant in the 60 is just going crazy--if I had a time lapse camera, I am sure I could watch it grow. Today alone it grew almost an inch. The plant in the 55 is much slower, but seems to be healthy. I am sure it is due to the difference in lighting on the 2 tanks. I have read and learned to understand that things go slowly in this hobby-except when it is something bad; I did not expect to have any concerns about this plant so soon. If and when it gets out of control, I am expecting to get in there and trim it back as often as needed.