Trimming Plants

[lkunz]

I'm really new to plants and aquariums, so, please forgive the common names.

I currently have just a few plants in a healthy 10 gal tank.

1 Amazon Sword, 2 Tropical Sunsets, 1 Other that looks similar to a Sunset (but has tall growths like a lilly), and about 20 Bacopa shoots.

Anyway, they are all growing way too tall and big for our aquarium. I would like to move some of the plants into my other aquariums, but I don't want to hurt the healthy ones. So, here are my basic questions:

1. If I cut the Sword bulb into 2, will each half grow on its own?
2. How do I cut back the Sunsets (and look alike) without causing bunches of rotting plant?
3. How should I prune the Bacopa so that the rooted plant will survive as well as the new cutting?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

 

[Starry]

Originally posted by lkunz

1. If I cut the Sword bulb into 2, will each half grow on its own?
2. How do I cut back the Sunsets (and look alike) without causing bunches of rotting plant?
3. How should I prune the Bacopa so that the rooted plant will survive as well as the new cutting?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

1. I doubt it. Swords (Echinodorus species) send up flower stalks, and grow a plantet at the end. Some send out runners. If yours isn't doing anything to propagate, I don't think you can do much. You can cut off older leaves at the base, if it's getting too big.

2. I'm guessing you're talking about Hygrophila. In that case, cut it anywhere, and stick the new cutting into the substrate. It should root in a few days. Cut off the bottom few leaves and plant each stem alone to avoid rotting. You shouldn't have any problems with this plant.

3. With Bacopa, and any other stem plant, cut it anywhere and replant the top. You can either keep the bottom, or get rid of it if you have too much. The new stems usually root within a few days. Same as above for #2.

 

[lkunz]

Thank you.

I really didn't know what to do.

I think I'll replant the top cuttings from the Bacopa into another tank. Live plants look so much nicer than the fake ones.

 

[MrGoodbytes]

You got that right. The fish seem to like it better too.