Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
In an article on the Krib, Dan Resler suggests that stem plants should
be pruned from the bottom. I quote: "One solution is diligent pruning. Many of the so-called `bunch' plants will do better, however, if they're trimmed from the bottom. Pull the plant out of the substrate, lop off the bottom portion, and then replant. Roots seem to be easier to grow than new stems and leaves." Can anyone comment on this and their experiences? Or, perhaps just elaborate on this. I think this may be tied in with the absorbtion of nutrients from the upper portion of the plant (through the water) vs the root system........so perhaps it is intuitive after all. James Ervin Remove SPAM to email me. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
Stem plants tend to look nicer when pruned that way. When I'm trying to
propegate them, I just leave the bottom, chop off the top, and plant that...and the bottom plant will branch below the chopped point..but they can get rater unsightly after theyve been cut up a couple times. Then I pull them out and just plant the cut off tops..and it looks all nice and orderly again. James Ervin wrote: In an article on the Krib, Dan Resler suggests that stem plants should be pruned from the bottom. I quote: "One solution is diligent pruning. Many of the so-called `bunch' plants will do better, however, if they're trimmed from the bottom. Pull the plant out of the substrate, lop off the bottom portion, and then replant. Roots seem to be easier to grow than new stems and leaves." Can anyone comment on this and their experiences? Or, perhaps just elaborate on this. I think this may be tied in with the absorbtion of nutrients from the upper portion of the plant (through the water) vs the root system........so perhaps it is intuitive after all. James Ervin Remove SPAM to email me. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
I think it's just that the tops of stem plants tend to be much more attractive
than the bottoms. The bottom leaves are older (leaves don't live forever), plus they're shaded by the upper leaves, and are often straggly-looking. The tops, OTOH, are lush and green. So it just makes sense to save the tops and discard the bottoms. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
Wow -
So your saying rip out the whole plant, cut and replant the tops? "LeighMo" wrote in message ... I think it's just that the tops of stem plants tend to be much more attractive than the bottoms. The bottom leaves are older (leaves don't live forever), plus they're shaded by the upper leaves, and are often straggly-looking. The tops, OTOH, are lush and green. So it just makes sense to save the tops and discard the bottoms. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
My best experience with stem plants, especially hygrophelia and the type, is
to lob the tops off and try replant them. When I leave the rest of the plant it gets more bushy by sprouting off shoots. I think ripping the plant out and only planting the top part is a lot more disruptive to the environment. For one, the stem will be hard to stay anchored in the gravel (especially if you have cories and other little critters). Another issue is that you will never have solid growing plants with well established root bases. If you constantly are tearing up plants you don't give them a good chance to grow good...thus enabling other factors like algae to get a slight upper hand at the competition for nutrients. ---IMHO & experience -- Dave Picklyk www.picklyk.com/aquascape "James Ervin" wrote in message ... In an article on the Krib, Dan Resler suggests that stem plants should be pruned from the bottom. I quote: "One solution is diligent pruning. Many of the so-called `bunch' plants will do better, however, if they're trimmed from the bottom. Pull the plant out of the substrate, lop off the bottom portion, and then replant. Roots seem to be easier to grow than new stems and leaves." Can anyone comment on this and their experiences? Or, perhaps just elaborate on this. I think this may be tied in with the absorbtion of nutrients from the upper portion of the plant (through the water) vs the root system........so perhaps it is intuitive after all. James Ervin Remove SPAM to email me. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
On Tue, 15 Apr 2003 22:38:37 -0700, "DWS" wrote:
Wow - So your saying rip out the whole plant, cut and replant the tops? It seemed odd to me, but makes sense now. James Ervin Remove SPAM to email me. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
So your saying rip out the whole plant, cut and replant the tops?
Yes. With stem plants, I mean. Don't try this with an Amazon sword. g Just cutting the top off a stem plant and discarding it, leaving the bottom, is called "topping." It's not recommended for many stem plants like Cabomba; it makes the plant straggly and unattractive. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
My best experience with stem plants, especially hygrophelia and the type, is
to lob the tops off and try replant them. Eventually, though, you'll have to get rid of either the tops or the bottoms, because you'll run out of space to plant. Another issue is that you will never have solid growing plants with well established root bases. If you constantly are tearing up plants you don't give them a good chance to grow good... Generally not a problem with stem plants. They don't rely on their roots much, and can grow just fine floating. And they root very, very fast if they are growing well. FWIW, some stem plants, like Hygrophila and Rotala, can be "topped" and still look good. If you cut them back hard, they will grow back bushier than ever. Most stem plants, though, never look right if you keep topping them. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
Although I have found that topping cabomba and then letting the bottoms grow
back to the surface often causes them to sprout a new top that you can use to increase how much cabomba you have. It does mean you have to deal with the ugly cut bottoms for a while though. Ron "LeighMo" wrote in message ... So your saying rip out the whole plant, cut and replant the tops? Yes. With stem plants, I mean. Don't try this with an Amazon sword. g Just cutting the top off a stem plant and discarding it, leaving the bottom, is called "topping." It's not recommended for many stem plants like Cabomba; it makes the plant straggly and unattractive. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
"Ron Nelson" wrote in message news Although I have found that topping cabomba and then letting the bottoms grow back to the surface often causes them to sprout a new top that you can use to increase how much cabomba you have. It does mean you have to deal with the ugly cut bottoms for a while though. Ron "LeighMo" wrote in message ... So your saying rip out the whole plant, cut and replant the tops? Yes. With stem plants, I mean. Don't try this with an Amazon sword. g Just cutting the top off a stem plant and discarding it, leaving the bottom, is called "topping." It's not recommended for many stem plants like Cabomba; it makes the plant straggly and unattractive. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ I do the same with Cabomba. Mine tends to generate an abundance of new stems out of the substrate and I can then cut out the old stem if it gets ugly looking. bob |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
I do the same with Cabomba. Mine tends to generate an abundance of new
stems out of the substrate and I can then cut out the old stem if it gets ugly looking. I do that, too, if I want to propagate it. But I find it tends to make the Cabomba straggly. If you don't top it, it gets much thicker, with that nice "bottle-brush" look. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
James Ervin wrote in
: Can anyone comment on this and their experiences? Or, perhaps just elaborate on this. I think this may be tied in with the absorbtion of nutrients from the upper portion of the plant (through the water) vs the root system........so perhaps it is intuitive after all. My take on this was always: A) It is easier grow roots than a crown B) The cut part heals better enclosed in gravel than open to whatever C) The plants look better I do this when not propagating and just pruning... It is a pain in the butt sometimes, but I chop them to 1/2 or so of the tank height so I don't have to do the work or stress out the plant more than necessary. ~Empty -- 'You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood... blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.' Spike |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
how much length of the top part should we keep as a minimum for good growth
of the top part? (discarding the bottom). linda "LeighMo" wrote in message ... So your saying rip out the whole plant, cut and replant the tops? Yes. With stem plants, I mean. Don't try this with an Amazon sword. g Just cutting the top off a stem plant and discarding it, leaving the bottom, is called "topping." It's not recommended for many stem plants like Cabomba; it makes the plant straggly and unattractive. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Prunning From the Bottom?
how much length of the top part should we keep as a minimum for good growth
of the top part? (discarding the bottom). 4" Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
[IBC] Prunning Flowering quince and Prunus mume | Bonsai | |||
[IBC] Prunning Flowering quince and Prunus mume | Bonsai | |||
Hydrangea Prunning | United Kingdom | |||
Prunning | United Kingdom | |||
prunning | Gardening |