Xref: 127.0.0.1 rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants:78169

Dacaprice wrote in message
m...
I have a few moneyworts in my 20 gal planted tank. After a while they
all seem to rot in the section of the stem closest to the gravel.
Other than that one spot, they all seem healthy; solid green stems and
leave, white roots growing from the stem (are they roots? if not what
are they?) I have a 6700K 65 watt flourescent light so I don't think
lighting is a problem and I haven't had any problems with any other
plants. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

There are several plants commonly called 'moneywort,' at least one of which
isn't a true aquatic. One used to grow in my backyard in New England. You
might try identifying yours in a plant manual (or online at a vendor site)
and posting it's latin name.

Many aquatic plants have quite fragile stems since they're not weight
bearing. If your substrate is gravel, particularly a large, heavy grain,
you may be damaging the stem when you plant in your cuttings. Or you may be
pinching them too tightly when you insert them, thereby crushing the stem.

When I plant a cutting, I hold it gently between my thumb and first three
fingers. I then insert my FINGERS into the substrate and, while gradually
releasing the plant, madly backfill with my little finger. Or something
like that. I guess it's hard to describe.

The exact opposite may be true: you may have a fine substrate and, when you
plant cuttings, you don't remove the bottom leaves which are buried and
which then decay causing damaging to the lower part of the plant. Many
people (myself included) with a coarse substrate will leave the lower leaves
or a portion of them attached to anchor the cutting. This isn't a problem
with gravel because the decaying material can circulate out but a fine
material can trap the gasses.

If you have cichlids, corys or botias, or anything else which is
particularly active at crown level, your citizens may be implicated, I
suppose.

I'd start by identifying the Latin name for the plant.

kush