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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #1012
Subject: Re: Karen's green thumb.
>Karen, it is your green thumb. It is getting dangerously potent. Please be
>careful what you touch with it...Don't _ever_ touch any Kudzu. I don't want
>to think about what would happen!>>
>
>I've had the opportunity to witness Karen's green thumb in person (she and I
>are members of the same aquarium society). EVERY time I see her tanks in
>person I want to go home and shoot mine full of bullet holes and start over
>again. LOL!
Before you do that, let me know. I'll come and save it. I'd be proud to
add your tank to my collection!<g>
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Java Fern
>I would like some advice on growing Java Fern.
>
>Question: How do I get the plantlets taken from adult leaves to grow to
>the same size as the parent plants?
>
>About 6 months ago I bought a couple bunches of Java Fern. I do not know
>the specific variety. These were adult specimens about 10 or more inches
>long, with plantlets growing on the leaves. The plantlets produced were
>prolific. Since then the adult leaves have died and gone to fern heaven.
> I have attached the plantlets to bogwood using thread and they are
>healthy looking, green and pretty and they have actually grown new
>leaves. The plantlets have grown to about 2 inches
There are two possibilities here. The first is that your original plants
were grown emersed, and were larger for that reason. That also would
explain why they died back. The other possibility is that the original
plants were just grown under different conditions than yours. With many
plants, Java Fern included, the size, shape, color and texture of the
leaves is variable depending on the conditions under which they are grown.
It doesn't mean that your Java Fern is unhealthy just because it is smaller
than the original. If the leaves are a good bright green, and the plant is
increasing along the rhizome rather than just producing leaf plantlets, it
is most likely just growing the way it wants to grow under your particular
tank conditions.
The production of leaf plantlets _without_ increase along the rhizome,
particularly if the adult leaves are browning and unhealthy looking is a
sign that the parent plant is under stress, and trying to propagate before
it dies. You can even see this respone when a single Java Fern leaf is
left floating in a tank. The leaf itself will eventually die, but not
before putting its last efforts into producing offspring.