Spliting up plants!

[leafgirl115]

My plants in my 20g are huge! I want to divide them up into smaller ones and distribute them in other tanks... but how do i go about doing this?

They are Amizon Sword I think and another type of sword.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by leafgirl115

My plants in my 20g are huge! I want to divide them up into smaller ones and distribute them in other tanks... but how do i go about doing this?

They are Amizon Sword I think and another type of sword.

lg: I anticipate that this is going to be tough the 1st time as it was for me.

1) remove the plant with significant substrate such that you do not damage the root system;
2) gently remove the substrate from the root system;
3) use a razor blade to slice the plant and root system into equal portions: and
4) replant both portions.

TR

[leafgirl115]

Do you have any picks or know where I can see some? It may help Thanks for the reply!

[jones57742]

lg: I do not but based on my post this should go much easier for you than
it did my first time.

As you have responded I will go through this in greater detail (you cannot believe how much time I and other folks spend responding to questions and no one is listening).

[1] Perform a 5% WC and save the tank water;
[2] Get out a stirring spoon (like 3" across);
[3] Start approximately 2" from the base of the sword and dip it out
very deeply (most of the root structure should come out with the sword);
[4] Rinse the root structure in the WC water gently but to the extent
where you can easily observe all of the root structure;
[5] Get out a razor blade or very sharp knife (I used a high end Bowie
Knife);
[6] Spread the leaves out at the average midpoint of the leaves and the
root structure (you will understand what I am talking about when you get
to this point);
[7] Slice through the root structure at the location established at 6
above (you do have to have a very, very sharp cutting utensil or you
will make a real mess);
[8] Plant the two portions.

TR

[TheOldSalt]

That's the easy way, or at least the fast one.

another way is to get some rooting hormone powder at WalMart and apply it to the bases of individual leaves you cut off of the main plant. The tricky part is keeping the leaf wet for a few days while simultaneously keeping the root well covered in the powder. Little plastic plates or wet cotton balls can be useful with a little imagination. After about 5 days you can then plant the individual leaves in a tank with some soil substrate, and soon you'll have new plants.

jones's way is a lot less hassle.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

another way is to get some rooting hormone powder at WalMart and apply it to the bases of individual leaves you cut off of the main plant. The tricky part is keeping the leaf wet for a few days while simultaneously keeping the root well covered in the powder. Little plastic plates or wet cotton balls can be useful with a little imagination. After about 5 days you can then plant the individual leaves in a tank with some soil substrate, and soon you'll have new plants.

roflmao roflmaoroflmao roflmao
Do I need to explain how to sharpen a knife for field dressing a deer?

TOS: You just gotta be woofing me here! Have you really tried this and if so what was your success ratio??


Folks:

Most of my verbiage above was just West Texas humor but this is serious.

I am plugging TOS' post into my brain.

The propagation methods of many of the difficult or hard to grow plants are not set forth in the literature.

As I am moving along with experimentation on high intensity lighting, feeding and fertilization protocols as well as concentrations of dry ferts and I am anticipating very, very pretty red pigmented plants which are virtually impossible for a home fish and plant keeper to grow (much less propagate).

TR