amazon swords and runners

[Jonathan Aquari]

When i was still a beginner aquatic planter, i cut of their runners, qestion is will they ever grow them back? it has been months since i did this and nothing. anything special i need to do?

 

[mcintosh]

Feed the roots. Swords need lots of food so add some fertilizer tablets. They will grow back, when they are growing well.

 

[Jonathan Aquari]

Any recommendations, I use sand

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
You can add some controlled release fertiliser (such as "Osmocote") to the sand, or you can foliar feed the plants via the water column.
Have a look here: <http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm>.

cheers Darrel

 

[Apistomaster]

I keep a lawn of Echinodorus tenellus, Pygmy Chain Swords and use Azoo color fertilizer mixed into the sand. It is very similar to Osmocote. I think the Echinodorus species feed mainly from the substrate. Mine are growing in #20/30 white silica sand blasting sand.
I plant all my medium and large species in GladWare food containers filled with FloraBase and provide substrate fertilizers. In display tanks I conceal most of the container in the surrounding substrate. I like being able to rearrange my larger Sword Plants without having to disturb their root systems. They often become very root bound in my potting containers but as long as I keep supplying the fertilizers they still grow well. My Amazon Swords, E. bleheri get larger than I desire so I switched to the slower growing(in my tank), E. uruguayensis. This species grows more narrow strap like leaves so they still make good center pieces but leave more room near them for shorter species. I use the intermediate sized species or hybrid varieties under the larger swards.
I very rarely use any fertilizers in the water