Java Fern/Moss

"Richard Sexton" wrote in message

"Can grow in dim light" is not the same as "prefers dim light".
As far as I know there are no aquatic plants that prefer dim light.

I was under the impression that most aquatic plants are shade lovers. Except
when it comes to certain stem plants.
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

Thanks for the input about the lighting. Now what about the growing the
Java Fern on the gravel? Possible? Not possible?

If you bury the Rhizome it will rot. Tie the rhizome to a small rock or
attach it to driftwood.
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

"PiperJason" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the input about the lighting. Now what about the growing the
Java Fern on the gravel? Possible? Not possible?

"Dogma Discharge" wrote in message
...
"Richard Sexton" wrote in message

"Can grow in dim light" is not the same as "prefers dim light".
As far as I know there are no aquatic plants that prefer dim light.

I was under the impression that most aquatic plants are shade lovers.
Except
when it comes to certain stem plants.
==============================
Since most lakes, ponds and streams are out in the open I would think they'd
be sun or partial-sun lovers.
--
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Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
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In article , Dogma Discharge wrote:
"Richard Sexton" wrote in message

"Can grow in dim light" is not the same as "prefers dim light".
As far as I know there are no aquatic plants that prefer dim light.

I was under the impression that most aquatic plants are shade lovers. Except
when it comes to certain stem plants.

Nah. Here's some pics of biotopes of Cryptocoryne, a plant everybody
knows is a "dim light" plant:

http://crypts.ptr.aquaria.net/Crypto...peatmatang.jpg
http://crypts.ptr.aquaria.net/Crypto...rieder_x_1.jpg
http://crypts.ptr.aquaria.net/Crypto..._Chan_x_UT.jpg

"At this more or less sheltered spot C. affinis develops rather big leaves."
http://crypts.ptr.aquaria.net/Crypto...805_x_2515.jpg

"Much more C. affinis is found in the riverbed where they grow fully exposed to the sun"
http://crypts.ptr.aquaria.net/Crypto...805_x_2519.jpg

--
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In article .com,
PiperJason wrote:
Thanks for the input about the lighting. Now what about the growing the
Java Fern on the gravel? Possible? Not possible?


It will sit on top of it and grow if that's what you mean. The
moss will "stick" to stuff, but since gracel is made up of
lots of tiny rocks every time it's disturbed it'll lose
those anchoring points.

You can grow it on a rock or a small piece of wood. Or even
a tiny flowrpot and it'll stick reasonablky well to it.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

"PiperJason" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the input about the lighting. Now what about the growing the
Java Fern on the gravel? Possible? Not possible?

I have a fair amount of Java Fern in all my tanks.
The driftwood-attached plants make a lot of babies.
I don't get around to do something with the babies
quickly, so they just float around and grow on their
own until they're big enough to draw my attention.

I guess what I'm saying is unless you need to
have your Java Fern in one place, just let the
babies go wherever they will. But rather
than trying to grow them in gravel (which I
don't think will work), you could get some
small ornaments, like the little Roman corner
walls Petsmart sells, and tie the plants to
those.

For tying I use polyester thread you can
find anyplace that sells sewing thread.

Gail

My Java Fern won't attach to my driftwood either but attaches very well
to rocks, particularly sandstone which is very porous. It can be tied to
the stones with thread or monofiliment but it will attach just as well
by just setting the rock on top of some of the hair roots - NOT the
rhizome. Having them on rocks also makes them easy to rearrange as
needed. As they get large I just add another rock along side and they
eventually creep over and cover it. I would be very careful dosing a
tank that small with fertilizers.

I've had great success in growing java moss with no artificial light in
a 5 gal guppy tank. It only got some filtered sunlight at certain times
of day. It was the only plant in the tank, it was growing fast, and it
had a bright green colour. Basically the lower 1/3 of the tank was all
java moss. Now I grow java moss in a heavy planted 20 gal tank. It
still grows fast, and creeps along the ground, but the colour is a much
darker green. I use pebbles to hold the moss down, and from there it
spreads around the gravel. It takes it awhile to attach, so its best
not to disturb the substrate at all. I use the same approach with a
java fern. I bured some roots in the gravel (but not the rhizome), and
just left it alone. It then started to attach to a nearby pebble and
gravel. (I have small pebbles scattered everywhere around the plants).
This particular fern started as a tiny plant that came entangled in
java moss. It was awhile before I found it and realized what it was. So
far it grows nicely, growing new leaves. The trick is not to disturb
these plants, which is hard to do in a small tank.

Bottom posted.
Gail Futoran wrote:
"PiperJason" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the input about the lighting. Now what about the growing
the Java Fern on the gravel? Possible? Not possible?

I have a fair amount of Java Fern in all my tanks.
The driftwood-attached plants make a lot of babies.
I don't get around to do something with the babies
quickly, so they just float around and grow on their
own until they're big enough to draw my attention.

I guess what I'm saying is unless you need to
have your Java Fern in one place, just let the
babies go wherever they will. But rather
than trying to grow them in gravel (which I
don't think will work), you could get some
small ornaments, like the little Roman corner
walls Petsmart sells, and tie the plants to
those.

For tying I use polyester thread you can
find anyplace that sells sewing thread.

Gail

You can also use lead fishing weights (i.e. in the form of a flexible thick
rod - not fishing rod) and bend them around one or more areas of the plant
(i.e. branches, leaves and/or roots - probably not the rhizome though) to
hold it down and if you hide the weights it looks great. Good luck and
later!