Questions Growing Stem Plants Using 'Horizontal Method'

[Julian]

I've bought some Rotala Rotundifolia from ebay which arrived in good condition.

I read somewhere a long time ago that you can achieve a far more natural look with newly purchased stem plants by laying them down horizontally across the substrate, using a rock or some other method to weigh them down and eventually new growth will appear at each node and grow vertically.

I want to achieve a really dense 'bush' with this plant so this seems like the route to follow, but at the same time I don't want to kill the plant.

Do I need to cut any of the leafs off, or do I just leave them all on there and lay the plant down?

What happens to 'head' of the plant when you weigh it down, does it continue to grow horizontally or will it bend vertically?

Thanks!

 

[tim]

This does work, I found you need To make sure each node is in contact with the substrate, not as easy as it sounds, rocks can/will damage the stems I used cut up paper clips. I wouldn't say this method gives a more natural look but it gives you more plant mass for your buck so to speak, I think with rotala if you let it hit the surface it will produce side shoots anyway which can be trimmed off and planted. Good luck with it, hope this helps.

 

[Julian]

I think I'm gonna give it a go!

Thanks.

 

[Martin in Holland]

You probably be better of when you just cut the head of preventing it from growing upright and this will encourage new growth (side shoots).

 

[Mick.Dk]

You probably be better of when you just cut the head of preventing it from growing upright and this will encourage new growth (side shoots).

- and re-plant the off-cuts in the group.