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Native plant maintenance
I have collected Bacopa, Elodea, and what looks like Myriophyllum
hippuroides, some of which has red stems and leaves. I have planted them in
a 10-gallon tank with a substrate of peat, gravel, and stones. I have
fertilized the substrate with aquatic plant food 20-10-5 and have added the
recommended dose of Flourish to the water. I am filtering with a whisper
power filter (the Elodea and Bacopa and the red Myriophyllum were collected
in a rapidly flowing stream). So far I have done two water changes (in one
month).
I have noticed that some of the old growth on the plants is looking ragged
and attracting algae, but they are beginning to have new growth along their
stems. The new growth is growing very slowly.
My question is: at what point should I prune and replant? Should I detach
the new stems from the old or cut off the old below the new growth and plant
the old stem? Another alternative, should I cut the old stem just above new
growth that is low on the stem and replant the old stem?
I hope my questions are clear. I think they are awfully basic in comparison
with the advanced technical questions that are usually addressed here, but I
hope someone can help. I have always had planted tanks, but I would not
consider myself a water gardener. I would love to learn to create a
beautiful planted tank and keep algae in check.
Thank you.
Dick Norwood
Columbia, SC
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