How To Propagate Brazilian Pennywort

My pennywort plant has grown to the surface, and the leaves at the top look great. But the bottom half of the plant doesn't have any leaves anymore, and the lowest leaf (which is at the halfway point at the plant) is whiter and has holes. How do I propagate it to get the healthy portion of the plant apart from the leafless stem (which I'm hoping can get leaves in the future)? Can I just cut the entire plant in half?
Thanks

 

Pull the plant up, cut off the unhealthy portion at a leaf node and replant the top. If you cut the "stems" the leaf portion will die, you have to cut the runners. The plant will always produce new growth at a leaf node.

 

My tank is looking a little messy at the moment, but should I cut where the red line is? The plant is healthy above it, but the stem below has small leaf nodes (just the bumps in the stem) without leaves.

 

You got it!

 

You got it!

Thanks! I wanted to make sure I didn't cut off the wrong part lol

Fahn so I ended up leaving the healthy plant floating and I replanted the unhealthy stem with a root tab. Any chance it can bounce back? Would it be better to leave the healthy part floating after I remove some of the duckweed?

 

Fahn so I ended up leaving the healthy plant floating and I replanted the unhealthy stem with a root tab. Any chance it can bounce back? Would it be better to leave the healthy part floating after I remove some of the duckweed?

It will only start growing where you cut it, the old stem probably won't grow new leaves. The root tab isn't really necessary as it is mostly a water column feeder.

Pennywort does great as a floating plant. In my experience with it, you need higher intensity lighting for it to not shed lower leaves.

 

It will only start growing where you cut it, the old stem probably won't grow new leaves. The root tab isn't really necessary as it is mostly a water column feeder.

Pennywort does great as a floating plant. In my experience with it, you need higher intensity lighting for it to not shed lower leaves.

Ok thanks! I purposefully put the root tab next to rooted plants that need it, so it wasn't entirely wasted.

 

I grow it floating, always did well for me with lots of light at the top. I had it submerged as well, but it does better for me floating. I keep it anchored with fishing line to the back or front panel so it doesn't block light, but still has access to bright lighting and atmospheric co2.

 

I grow it floating, always did well for me with lots of light at the top. I had it submerged as well, but it does better for me floating. I keep it anchored with fishing line to the back or front panel so it doesn't block light, but still has access to bright lighting and atmospheric co2.

Wow your tanks look great! I definetely think I'll keep it floating, and I'll try to keep it upright without fishing line if I can.

 

Here's some of mine. It is growing out of the water and creeping up the driftwood.