Aquarium plants should be shortened regularly

Aquatic plants should be shortened regularly

With modern aquarium techniques, aquatic plants will grow magnificently. A high-quality soil substrate, balanced fertilization and CO ₂ - supply as well as the correct lighting make that possible. But the plants need a little direct maintenance: regular shortening and pruning. This is attended to every week.

Increasing growth in plants after a short time can cause problems. That leads increasingly to mutual light and food competition; the results are the plants suffer. That is why I pull individual plants out of the " carpet ". Thus the remaining plants have more space, in order to develop. This allows for a magnificent growth under the proper conditions.

Also plants must be maintained correctly, because they grow otherwise too strongly and shade themselves mutually. If the plants reach the waters surface, they must be carefully taken out of the soil. With a sharp shears I cut off (approx. 6-8 in.). The lower sections of the plants I throw away - they bring usually only weak growth. I then replant the plants into the substrate again. They will then develop magnificently!