Airial Roots

[Daveslaney]

Hi
On the rotala in my tank i have what ican only discribe as airial roots, Roots growing from the stem towards the top part of the plant. Looks unsightly.
I plan on trimming the plant back to where the roots are to get rid of it?
What causes this to happen?Am i not triming the plants back hard enough?

 

[George Farmer]

Try dosing more nutrients. There's a theory that roots are being sent out in search of more food because not enough is getting through the leaves alone.

 

[Daveslaney]

Thanks George.
I will trim it back then up my EI dosing a little.Its only the rotala that does this though.

 

[George Farmer]

Thanks George.
I will trim it back then up my EI dosing a little.Its only the rotala that does this though.

Which species of Rotala is it?

 

[Daveslaney]

Rotundifolia i think.
Gets redder leaves the closer it gets to the lights.

 

[Daveslaney]

Trimmed the plants back today. Here is a picture of one of the trimmings. The plants are around 50 cm tall as they are near the top of the tank. It is only the last 10cm or so where these roots from the stems appear