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I've got a healthy Amazon Sword in my 55 gallon tank, but I'm not sure how to propagate it properly. It's sending out runners, but the new plants look weak. Substrate is Flourite, lighting is moderate, and I dose Easy Green weekly. Any tips?

Amazon Swords propagate through runners, like you've noticed. The weak growth might be due to nutrient deficiency. Are you using root tabs? They're heavy root feeders. Also, check your lighting duration, 8 hours is ideal.

Yeah, mine did the same thing till I added root tabs. Now the babies are thriving. I use the Seachem ones, and they're gonna last forever. Also, make sure your nitrates aren't too low, like under 10 ppm.

I've had luck just cutting the runners and replanting the new shoots. They take a bit to settle but eventually grow. My tank's a mess though, so maybe don't listen to me.

What's your water temp? Mine struggled till I bumped it to 78F. Also, if the runners are long, you can pin them down with a rock till they root.

northbay wrote: ↑Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:45 am Amazon Swords propagate through runners, like you've noticed. The weak growth might be due to nutrient deficiency. Are you using root tabs? They're heavy root feeders. Also, check your lighting duration, 8 hours is ideal.

Thanks, I'll grab some root tabs today. My nitrates are around 5 ppm, so I'll adjust that too.

5 ppm is definitely too low for Amazon Swords. Aim for 20 ppm nitrates, and they'll perk up. Also, if your lighting is too intense, it might stress the new plants. Moderate is good, but duration matters more.

goldminer wrote: ↑Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:35 am I've had luck just cutting the runners and replanting the new shoots. They take a bit to settle but eventually grow. My tank's a mess though, so maybe don't listen to me.

Lol, same. But yeah, cutting works if you're patient. Just don't freak out if they melt a little at first.

Mine always melt a bit, but they bounce back. I don't even bother with root tabs, just let 'em do their thing. Maybe I'm lazy, but it works for me.

If you're gonna cut the runners, make sure the new plants have at least 3-4 leaves. Smaller ones might not make it. Also, keep an eye on your KH, low hardness can mess with growth.