Echinodorus Maximus - Our love/hate relationship

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Trey

Trey

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I love swords. I've grown 6 or 7 different kinds and they all have their perks. They are hardy, not demanding, and prolific. I've had a few though that end up so big they have to be pulled. Amazon and Red Ozelot to be specific. Even in my 75 gallon they get so big that they take up half of the tank.
So here is my question for all of you experts. Is there any husbandry practice that can keep them small? or at least smaller? Can you pinch the large leaves when you feel like they are too big without hurting the plant long term?
 
@Trey try this little gem of a trick by Oliver Knott. It does in dead work very well. Aqua Rebell 🪴 "Bonsai Cryptocoryne" Update After 6 weeks, everything is still going according to plan. Both Cryptocoryne are slowly getting their color and pattern of the underwater form. Wendtii Tropica in particular looks almost as it should. Pechtii still needs some time. To encourage the plants to form new leaves, simply cut off a few. This won't kill them, but it will harden them off. #werbung #aquarebell #fertilizer #aquascape #aquarium #aquascaping #aquariumhobby #aquariumtank #aquariums #akvaryum #aquariumfish #instafish #tropicalfish #aquatic #aquaticlife #fishtank #fishkeeping #freshwaterfish #freshwater #aquaticplants #natureaquarium #hardscapedesign #ada60p #plantedaquarium #aquariumplants #bonsai #cryptocoryne | Oliver Knott | Giulio Cercato · Hold Me Down

Edit: It's based on the bonsai tree technique where you purposly bind the plant roots so it cant grow to its full size.
No idea why that link put all the hash tags in lol.
 
That’s ingenious, however over time wouldn’t that actually kill the plant potentially? If the roots have nowhere to go they would just impact?
 
You can pinch out the oldest and biggest leaves at the base. Slide your thumb and index finger down the stem of the leaf as far as you can go, grip and give it a tug. Don’t cut them off as you won’t get down far enough.
 
BigWave said:
Id think like most plants youd have to uproot and re-plant.
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Or use a small knife and cut a circle through the soil around the plant. I used to do that, and found that easier and less damaging to the rest of my tank as a sword's root system can reach quite far.
 
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Just wanted to stop in and thank everyone for their responses. I have pulled some of the really big leaves off and I'm happy with the space it opened up.
 
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