Anubias on driftwood :D

[C8lyn]

I've successfully attached my anubias to driftwood in my tank. :woohoo:
I was holding it there with rubber bands until it grabbed on and just took them off the other day.
My next issue it all the straggly roots sticking out everywhere from when the plant used to be planted in gravel. Is it ok to trim the roots? or do I have to leave them? Arent they there mainly for grabbing onto things and not collecting nutrition like land plants?

Caitlyn

 

[Tener ds]

:dk:
i leave mine alone,it looks good and i can tell if there growing well.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Best to leave the roots, they will still perform as roots, even though they aren't in the substrate. Most aquatic plants still take up nutrients through their roots (as well as their leaves) and in this case Anubias is really a terrestrial plant anyway. Think of it as a little Swiss Cheese plant (Monstera delicosa).

Although the roots of a Java Fern, Bromeliad, Strangler Fig, Anthurium or Orchid may be there mainly for structural reasons, they will still have the ability to take in nutrients and in some cases photosynthesise.

This is an aeroponically grown Tomato:

cheers Darrel

 

[C8lyn]

Thanks for the Education
I s'pose I'll have to leave them then.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
There is nothing to stop you pruning the longer roots, you may find that they will divide where they are cut and give you a shorter bushier look. I would just prune off any dead roots, Tener Ds' point is a good one, "healthy roots= healthy plant".

cheers Darrel

 

[FF MkII]

I love the roots hanging down off the wood, looks very natural.

 

[C8lyn]

Thanks guys.
I'm probably just letting my perfectionist neat side have too much say. Lol. Looking at them now they're not so bad. I'll take a quick snap on my phone.

 

[Tener ds]

i,m like that ,neat, but it looks good.funny to watch my zebra snails climb up them then fall off,lol

 

[C8lyn]

 

[Tener ds]

prity much the same as mine.one of them has roots around 6" long.

 

[C8lyn]

Alright.
Sorry for the crappy quality pic too. It's not my phone's fault. It's the stain in the tank from my newest driftwood. Lol.
I'm gonna do a water change and clean it this afternoon. It's bugging me!

 

[Lornek8]

There is talk that Anubias release toxic substances in the sap when trimmed. Don't know if that would include the roots but I can't see why not. Another reason to let it be.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Yes they look very healthy, you may find that they go green over time, but don't worry about it.

There is talk that Anubias release toxic substances in the sap when trimmed. Don't know if that would include the roots but I can't see why not. Another reason to let it be.

This is quite possible because a lot of the Aroids (family Araceae - Anubias belongs here) are poisonous to some degree. I must admit it is not a problem I've ever had.

Found this one: <http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/showthread.php/804-CRS-amp-Crypto-Anubias-problem>

cheers Darrel