Dealing with partially brown sword plant leaves

[belleora]

I picked up this sword last week and after removing the plant weight and foam, I found four little plants underneath. For now, I've temporarily placed them in a tank with some root tabs to keep them going until I set up their permanent home. I'm a bit unsure about the browning leaves - should I trim them off or wait until they go slimy? I removed two leaves and stems that had already gone slimy when I first got it.

I think the plants will recover with some good root feeding, as they seem to be surviving despite some leaves being half brown when I got them. I left those leaves for now, figuring it's not worth disturbing the plants while they're getting established and recovering from the store tank.

I'm considering leaving the browning leaves for a few weeks while I set up the new tanks, then trim them off once I move the plants to their permanent spot. Does that sound like a good plan?

Also, I was wondering if one or two of these plants could thrive in a softer water tank with root tabs and ferts? My otocinclus seem to love them, always finding them sitting on this one. I'd also love to know if it's possible to trim them to keep them short and bushy - my other amazon sword got huge and had to go to the back of the tank, but I'd love to keep at least one of these smaller so it can be midground and I can enjoy watching the otos enjoy it.

[kingrise]

I'd just leave the half-brown leaves alone for now, they'll likely recover once the plant settles in and gets going with the root feeding. Unless the whole thing is brown and dead, I wouldn't bother trimming them off yet, just let them be and focus on getting the plants established in their new home.

[dungeon]

I leave them on, the shrimp seem to enjoy eating the brown bits, so it's a win-win, they get a snack and I don't have to worry about it.

[kingrise]

I'd just leave the half-brown leaves alone for now, they'll likely recover once the plant settles in and gets going with the root feeding. Unless the whole thing is brown and dead, I wouldn't bother trimming them off yet, just let them be and focus on getting the plants established in their new home.

I'm thinking of just leaving the browning leaves for now since they don't seem to be causing any issues and most of the leaf is still okay. I figure the plants will recover with some good root feeding, and since they're not polluting the tank, might as well give them a few weeks to settle in while I'm setting up new tanks.

I'm also wondering if I could keep one or two of them in a softer water tank with root tabs and ferts - my otocinclus seem to love this plant. And I'd love to know if it's possible to trim them to keep them short and bushy, I've got another amazon sword that got huge and had to go to the back of the tank, but I'd love to keep at least one of these midground so I can see the otos enjoying it.

[belleora]

I leave them on, the shrimp seem to enjoy eating the brown bits, so it's a win-win, they get a snack and I don't have to worry about it.

Thanks for the advice, I'm not too fussed about the appearance right now, I've got tanks all over the place at the moment with meds and rearrangements going on.

When I do move it, do you think I can trim one to keep it midground and have the otos using the leaves as a hammock, or will I need to let it grow tall and stick it at the back? I've noticed with swords, it's a bit trickier since the leaves all grow from the base, so not sure if I can keep it short and bushy.

[kingrise]

If it's similar to Java Fern, I'd recommend cutting off completely brown leaves to promote healthy growth. For midground placement, you can definitely trim one to your liking - it'd be awesome to see the otos resting on it, creating a little hammock effect.

[dungeon]

When I got my amazon swords online, they were in a pretty rough shape. Had to chop off most of the leaves - sometimes only two were left on a plant. I did trim the roots down, and I've heard that helps with growth. It's pretty tough to get the long roots back into the substrate anyway. Mine are still taking a bit to get going.

[desertstream]

Trim off brown leaves, they're still using up nutrients that could be better spent on healthy leaves and new growth.

[kingrise]

Cutting back on a plant like swords can be tough, especially when they're looking so pretty, but trust me, it pays off in the end - they'll come back bigger and better, it's almost like they're trying to prove a point.

[boomer]

Trim off brown leaves, they're still using up nutrients that could be better spent on healthy leaves and new growth.

I've actually found that with swords, the older leaves play a role in transferring nutrients to new growth. As long as they're still connected at the crown and not brown, they'll channel energy down through the crown and up into the new leaves. I tend to leave the outer leaves alone, even if they start to die, until the stem base is no longer connected. A gentle tug usually breaks it off at the crown if it's no longer attached.