How To Propagate Carpet Plants

This is in regards to Dwarf baby tears and java moss,

Is there a substrate, light, nutrient setup that will propagate matted plants....exponentially?

Should I use blue and/or red wavelength specific lightbulb (10K vs FloraSun Bulb)?

T5NO or T5HO?

Iron and Potash rich liquid fert with laterite?

I'd appreciate references/links to a DIY.

Thanks

 

Good morning,

Hopefully you will receive some responses today!

Ken

 

Nothing yet?

Any suggestions on innovating methods to weigh them down and keep them from floating to surface.

THANKS!

 

Baby tears spreads by both runners and cuttings. As the plant grows it taller it tends to want to float. The best way to avoid this is to keep the plant cut pretty short. The roots will eventually take hold a little better. More compact gravels such as eco complete, sand, ADA aquasoil...etc. tend to keep the plant better as well. Personally I love the stuff but just found the maintenance to be too much. I quit cutting and eventually it started floating. I "dry started" the tank below by planting the HC in the soil, putting a 1/2 to an inch of water in the bottom and covered it with plastic. In fairly short order the plants grew in solid and then I filled the tank with water.

 

Good morning,

See if the video in the link below helps you:


Ken