Trimming AR Mini and other plants in general

[Scotthop57]

Back for another Newbie Question,

So, I planted my tank about a week ago. My plants seem to be acclimating well from what I can tell, thanks to the Dark Start. The only one I am questioning is the AR Mini but I am trying to be patient and positive as I know it's a slow grower and the "harder" of all the plants I put in. Also that this whole hobby is just a slow process and patience is key

I have been reading all the articles on the 2hr site and even the specific one on Growing AR Mini. Plus just going through the many great threads on here to try to grow my knowledge.

My question is when it is appropriate or when should I start thinking about trimming plants. Should I let the plants just settle for a long bit without touching them at all?

Like for instance the AR has some good leaves and appears to be getting some new ones as well but there are also some that appear to be struggling or may be starting to melt. Do I just lop them off right away or will doing so also hinder the plant. I had read that AR really need to get rooted in good before it starts to grow well so I don't want to mess with it if I shouldn't.

Also in reading about AR to keep it shorter it appears best to trim it short. My other question is if I let it just be for a while and it starts to get taller will I then have an issue cutting it down and trying to get it that more "bushy" growth?

Then for other plants like Rotala Rotundifolia. That is growing great and showing new submersed leaves. When do I lop off the tops and replant those. Do I wait for like 4-6 inches or what.

There are a lot of great articles and videos out there about hardscaping, planting, planning, or getting your tank started but very few I feel like on what to do a week or two or three later. lol. So, if anyone has any recommendations on material related to the next steps that would be great.

As always thanks in advance

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

My question is when it is appropriate or when should I start thinking about trimming plants. Should I let the plants just settle for a long bit without touching them at all?

It depends! It's something you have to learn for every plant, individually. They all have different patterns and habits, but share a lot of similarities.
If your goal is to propagate your stem plants as quickly as possible, trimming and replanting frequently at the beginning isn't bad (if the plants have truly settled in already). If there is consistent, new growth, you could trim. Otherwise, usually best to let them put on a bit of substantial growth before trimming. Post some pics! We'll be able to tell more from seeing your tank.

Like for instance the AR has some good leaves and appears to be getting some new ones as well but there are also some that appear to be struggling or may be starting to melt. Do I just lop them off right away or will doing so also hinder the plant.

Many if not all stem plants need to adjust to their new environment via new growth, and the old growth often melts, dies off, or gets serious algae. AR mini is a great example of why I prepare my plants like this:

Leaving the top few pairs of leaves provides enough "solar panels" to help them gather energy to put out new growth, while avoiding planting "old growth" that will inherently rot/melt, or attract/create algae. It allows the plants you receive to put on their new growth far better suited for the new environment you are providing them.

To be honest, my plant prep (trimming leaves, preparing individual stems) often takes just as long as planting itself. I will take every single stem I'm going to plant, and using stainless steel curved squeeze scissors, meticulously snip off all the lower leaves, leaving only the topmost growth (usually one pair of mature leaves for stability, and one pair of whatever new leaves there are.

This method works for all stem plants, including rotalas, ludwigias, limnophilas, pogostemons, blyxa japonica, Althenanthera species, lobelia cardinalis, staurogyne species, etc.

In some cases, you can actually plant just the stems of some stem plants. I don't recommend this, because without some newer leaves left on the stem to utilize light, the stumps of stems might have a hard time putting out new growth. See here:


I planted a bunch of AR Mini stems with either a few leaves, or none at all. This was to prevent the decay/algae growth of the older bottom leaves.

3 months later, here's the same patch of AR mini stems:

---

The bottom-most leaves on your AR Mini are either:

1. Submerged growth, but from a different tank with different parameters and will melt/die/algae.
2. Emersed (terrestrially farmed) growth, and will melt/die/algae.
3. In Vitro growth, and will melt/die/algae.

If you didn't trim them when you planted, it's important that you remove them now. In fact, you should ALWAYS remove melting/algae covered leaves. While some more robust plants can retain their older growth in a new tank without melt/algae, very few do so.

This is a big reason why I spend so much time on plant prep. There is a balance between removing so much plant mass that you stunt or kill your newly planted plants, and leaving too much old growth that will simply melt, cause algae, and lots of headaches.

I had read that AR really need to get rooted in good before it starts to grow well so I don't want to mess with it if I shouldn't.

This is true with AR Mini. Some of the most robust roots I've ever seen. Once established, you can often trim it down to the bottom-most nodes and it will regrow thanks to those robust roots.

Also in reading about AR to keep it shorter it appears best to trim it short. My other question is if I let it just be for a while and it starts to get taller will I then have an issue cutting it down and trying to get it that more "bushy" growth?

The only issue you'll have is that it can be hard to find the stems if they get too bit! That's mostly a joke, you'll be fine to trim them when the time comes. You can provide pics if you want us to weigh in.

Then for other plants like Rotala Rotundifolia. That is growing great and showing new submersed leaves. When do I lop off the tops and replant those. Do I wait for like 4-6 inches or what.

Again, it depends on your desires. Do you need the tops to help fill out your tank? Then you can certainly trim a bit earlier/sooner. If not, trim individual stems to help shape your bushes.

There are a lot of great articles and videos out there about hardscaping, planting, planning, or getting your tank started but very few I feel like on what to do a week or two or three later. lol. So, if anyone has any recommendations on material related to the next steps that would be great.

Usually you just wait at this point until things settle in a bit more. Again, send pics, it can help us out a lot! You can upload directly from your phone here:

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Here's an example for Staurogyne repens. For this plant. I always trim all the bottom leaves off each stem, leaving a maximum of 2-4 leaves (1-2 pairs) on the top of the stem.

Planted probably 35 stems, just the top 2-4 leaves on each stem.



5 Months Later:

Massive, bushy plants of all new growth, established in this tank's environment, so the leaves don't melt/rot/cause algae issues.

 

[Kwyet]

Is it important to cut the lower leaves off? I’ve just been pulling them off.

 

[Scotthop57]

Wow thanks for such a detailed response. I wish I would have seen this bottom leaf trimming tip prior as I think it would have made planting a little easier and cleaner with some of them lol.

Here is a full few of the tank. A little over a week. The “plan” for the tank is kind of left side is the rocky beach leading into “grass” leading into the left where it will get a little denser with the Repens and AR and then the back and back left will be tall and dense with the other stem plants shaped to kind of match the rocks a little. Figure once it’s grown in I can make adjustments if it doesn’t fit my vision but so far I’m digging it.

Dosing with APT1 per the directions and used UNS Contrasoil. Light has been at about 60% for 7 hours. CO2 seems to be as dialed as I can get it with API test kit for the PH Drop. Will eventually get something a little more accurate but want to make sure I actually grow some plants before I go too crazy with buying things. lol.



AR and Elecharis were invitro.

Rotala, Repens, Helanthium, Ludwigia Red Skeleton I bought from Aquarium Plants Factory and believe they are all emerged growth.

Planted pretty heavy since I think I ordered too much and everything seemed to read said the more plants the better to start a health tank.





So this is the Rotala. I would like to make it a little denser in the area, but it is in the back so I also want it to have some height so I don’t mind waiting for a trim and replant unless the trimming will actually help with growth.






The Repens appears to be doing good. From what I can tell with all my experience of 1 weeks with live plants. Lol

Planting in AR was probably the hardest. Again wish I would have stumbled upon how you planted and will definitely be doing that next time.

Not sure I have to much to close together but ordering plants is no easy thing your first time. Was glad to have more than enough as opposed to not enough.

Couldn’t get a non blurry picture of the Ludwigia Red Skeleton it’s behind the middle large rock. Seems to be growing but not at the rate of the Rotala so for now that is just a wait and see. Haven't seen a lot of information on it but it looked very interesting on Aquarium Plant Factory site so I figured I’d try it out instead of just getting more Rotala for that spot.

 

[Koan]

using stainless steel curved squeeze scissors

He's not kidding these are awesome

 

[techman81]

Is it important to cut the lower leaves off? I’ve just been pulling them off.

I have a feeling @Naturescapes_Rocco is much like me when I was younger, very detailed and precise. I don't recall exactly when it happened, but I became a little lazy and indifferent at some point, so I just pull them off as well.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I'm 30, so you might be right!