Mangrove help

[chrismhaase]

Can I prune my mangroves from my fuge? They are getting to tall and I would perfer to cut off a few inches. Will this kill the stalk or will it merely grow new leaves? Also, can i use the cut section and place it in water and have it produce new roots? This way I would add more mangroves over time. Any thoughts or ideas from others trials and errors will be welcomed. Thanks, Chris

 

[cschweitzer]

Almost any plant I have ever trimmed back will just grow bushier and healthier. I would n ot rcommend cutting down to the major part of the stalk(even though plants are still usually okay with this). I would say there should be no problem, but don't take my word for it. You might want to try a couple and leave the rest. See how they are doing and try it out on the rest if everything goes well. Also, most plants, a lot like coral, will grow from a cutting. The hardest part is getting the root structure to form. There are rooting solutions, but I wouldn't use those in my fuge. Maybe start a small side tank to cut mangroves for reproduction. That would be awesome.

 

[chrismhaase]

I have an extra 10 gallon I was thinkning of doing. However, i don't want to have to buy another expensive light. Any suggestions here?

 

[FloridaFishMan]

I think that it is fine to cut the mangrove as long as it is tall enough. Cut it back right above a leaf at like a 45o angle and make sure to leave several leaves or more for the plant to regrow.

 

[sttaylor]

You can trim it back, but I don't think the trimmings will root and grow.

Scott

 

[onehundred20]

anyone know a good thread on keeping mangroves as I was thinking about putting some in my fuge, but dont really know what they require.

 

[rdmpe]

From my experience, you stick them in the sand and they grow Sometimes they take quite a while to sprout leaves, but eventually they come around... I got some along with some live sand and rock. They were a little unhappy when I transplanted them but they all came back just fine.

 

[onehundred20]

what lighting are you using, I only have a 15watt strip light over my fuge atm with very little sand...have found any type of macros to put in yet.

heres my fuge...

sump

 

[rdmpe]

I got a couple of 100 watt power compact flood lights from Lowes or Home Depot, can't remember which. They are just hanging with some cheap fixtures also from the hardware store. I'm not sure what K the lamps are rated, but they are working really well. You can see them here...

 

[keithntracy]

Red mangroves need adequate amounts of magnesium in the water for their "salt pumps" to work. If magnesium levels become too low, the plants can develop "salt stress," which can cause yellowing of the leaves and shriveling of the leaves and branches. At a specific gravity of 1.025 (normal sea water), the magnesium level should be 1,000-1,300 ppm.

 

[Stoney Mahony]

Dang, look who knows there stuff!

 

[keithntracy]

did a lot of research last month!!