Creating Java Fern Trees - Aquarium Plants

growitnow · **Creating Java Fern Trees -** 04-01-2007, 04:06 PM

Hello,

Most of us have probably seen them, some of you have surely created them - Java fern trees with dozens and dozens of Microsorium fully covering an architectural piece of branching driftwood, or rock structures, to great effect.

How do you create them?

I have tied Microsorium to driftwood but never to the effect of a full branch structure covered in them, which now I wish to do. It would seem to get full coverage I would need to almost mummify the driftwood by wraping around and around and around and around.

Are there tips to doing this, or is it as simple as wrapping and wrapping and wrapping thread around the driftwood with moderate tightness to keep the Microsorium in place as desired?

Thanks,

"growitnow"

eddtango · **Java fern -** 04-02-2007, 08:36 PM

You can tie the rhizomes of the Java fern w/ fishing line to a piece of driftwood or rock, they will eventually grow attached to the medium and produce more leaves. Java fern have a slow growth rate but w/ CO2 supplementation and the right ferts, they will respond well and giive you the effect you want.

eddtango · **Java fern -** 04-02-2007, 08:45 PM

This was the Java fern tied to driftwood:

This was the result after a few months w/ CO2 fertilization and ferts, the driftwood covered with Java fern is on the right.

growitnow · 04-03-2007, 02:58 AM

Thanks, Edtango:

Your very (very) nice looking tank is exactly what I referred to. The driftwood is covered in Java fern. And in your tank it has a very nice effect. In the image with wood out of tank this is what I seek to undersand. It looks like there are many many pieces of Java fern.

Do you hold down each piece by starting to wrap the driftwood sticking each piece of Java fern under each pass of the fishing line as you wrap it around (and around).
Or do you separately tie each piece?
How do you get the leaves to stick upward at the initial wrap.
How do you get the line tight enough while wrapping so the fern stays where you want without cutting into the rhizomes, etc.

Sorry for such mundane questions. The fewer smaller pieces of wood I have done never seemed to hold the fern right, so I'm just seeking tricks of the trade if there are any to be had. If its as simple as "wrap it and it'll be fine", OK.

Thanks,
"growitnow"
Bob

eddtango · 04-03-2007, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by growitnow

Thanks, Edtango:

Your very (very) nice looking tank is exactly what I referred to. The driftwood is covered in Java fern. And in your tank it has a very nice effect. In the image with wood out of tank this is what I seek to undersand. It looks like there are many many pieces of Java fern.

Do you hold down each piece by starting to wrap the driftwood sticking each piece of Java fern under each pass of the fishing line as you wrap it around (and around).
Or do you separately tie each piece?
How do you get the leaves to stick upward at the initial wrap.
How do you get the line tight enough while wrapping so the fern stays where you want without cutting into the rhizomes, etc.

Sorry for such mundane questions. The fewer smaller pieces of wood I have done never seemed to hold the fern right, so I'm just seeking tricks of the trade if there are any to be had. If its as simple as "wrap it and it'll be fine", OK.

Thanks,
"growitnow"
Bob

You can tie it around the rhizomes leaving the leaves free. Don't worry about the leaves not standing up, it will eventually stand erect and have plantlets. That's what happened to that Java fern clump on the driftwood. Just be patient and with the right conditions, it will be fine. Just take note not to tie the rhizomes too tight. Sometimes I don't even tie it, I just stick a bunch in some hole on the driftwood.