Amazon sword trimming ?s

[Atitagain]

These are in a plant QT (for 60ish hours) and I’m in no hurry if they need to be cut to crown. I have 8 swords in the QT and 3 are having same problem this is worst one. The 8 were takin from 3 different tanks and I’m not sure if these 3 came from same tank. I should also mention they were split (cut in half) at time of quarantine. Tank has been running approximately 96 hours but the medium sponge filter is well seeded. Water parameters 

ammonia is 0ppm temp 77.7F 

Could it be melt back? what I can tell its nitrogen deficiency 

leaves 1-4 are horrible and must be cut back? Leaf 5 only has a small amount of transparency on right hand edge does it need to go as well? Leaf 6 is new growth and looks healthy.

More questions if I need to cut these back do I do them all at same time? Or wait a healing period between each cut? I will be cutting it from 6 leaves to 1 new growth leaf? Or leave leaf 5 and see what it does? 
One more question where to cut?

1 seems a little high 2 seems low. 

[Guppysnail]

Cut at spot 2. 1-4 must go. Hold off on 5. It will most likely melt back as well but is still useful to the plant at this point. I love how you detailed this. It makes it very easy to explain how to deal with it. 

Cut 1-4 all at once. 

[Atitagain]

On 10/6/2021 at 12:13 AM, Guppysnail said:

Cut at spot 2. 1-4 must go. Hold off on 5. It will most likely melt back as well but is still useful to the plant at this point. I love how you detailed this. It makes it very easy to explain how to deal with it. 

Cut 1-4 all at once. 

Thank you, so do you think this is just melting? The other 2 that have this problem are not as bad really not even close. I’m fairly sure 2 of them were same plant because their both the tallest from the group and I know for sure this was takin from in the middle of a big batch of thick jungle val. The plant was trimmed before the split and only healthy looking leafs were left 

you can see plenty of healthy leafs had to trim 3-4 before the split.

could this be a nitrogen def. ?

[Guppysnail]

I’m certain happens to me all the time. I think it depends on where it’s cut and what tiny filament things are severed that go to each leaf (THINK not know why) but It will grow back full and beautiful 😍 

[Atitagain]

On 10/6/2021 at 6:40 AM, Guppysnail said:

I’m certain happens to me all the time. I think it depends on where it’s cut and what tiny filament things are severed that go to each leaf (THINK not know why) but It will grow back full and beautiful 😍 

Great thanks

[Odd Duck]

Agree with @Guppysnail about cutting 1-4, leaving 5.  I cut as low as I can without putting pressure on leaves I want to save that might be delicate.  If it’s a better established plant which is strong, I worry less about pushing the back side of my scissors against a firm stem.

Might be some nitrogen deficiency.  Swords are heavy root feeders and piggy plants.  I think sometimes they melt at transplantation due to root damage that makes it hard for them to absorb as much nutrients as they need to supply all their leaves.

[Atitagain]

On 10/8/2021 at 10:58 AM, Odd Duck said:

Might be some nitrogen deficiency.  Swords are heavy root feeders and piggy plants.  I think sometimes they melt at transplantation due to root damage that makes it hard for them to absorb as much nutrients as they need to supply all their leaves.

I was wondering about this especially with this plant being right in the center of all that val. I keep root tabs in there around once a month but really just on a grid pattern and a sword that big probably needed a couple extra. 
Thanks for helping 

[Odd Duck]

On 10/8/2021 at 10:44 AM, Atitagain said:

I was wondering about this especially with this plant being right in the center of all that val. I keep root tabs in there around once a month but really just on a grid pattern and a sword that big probably needed a couple extra. 
Thanks for helping 

The only way you can go wrong with root tabs is putting in too many at once for the overall tank, or putting them too close to the plant, like directly under, and chemically burning the base of the plant.  The plant is absorbing the most nutrients at or near the root tips where the finest parts of the roots are, so keeping the plants supplied with root tabs can theoretically somewhat keep the roots from spreading aalll over the tank looking for nutrients.  I don’t know if that actually works and only matters if there’s heavy competition between root feeders or if you plan on moving plants around a lot, in which case planting in pots is likely a better idea.

[Torrey]

On 10/8/2021 at 9:50 AM, Odd Duck said:

don’t know if that actually works and only matters if there’s heavy competition between root feeders or if you plan on moving plants around a lot,

Yes, regularly maintaining the root tabs around heavy feeders like swords can keep the roots in a reasonable area.... unless you get sick and don't replace the root tabs one month.....😬

[Odd Duck]

On 10/9/2021 at 12:47 AM, Torrey said:

Yes, regularly maintaining the root tabs around heavy feeders like swords can keep the roots in a reasonable area.... unless you get sick and don't replace the root tabs one month.....😬

Or if you’re just lazy like me.  😆 

[Atitagain]

Update and question 

These have been in the grow out tank right over a month now. All are showing 2-3” new growth leaves. I’ve decided to try and plant some of them into pots. To soon? Good process?  
6” x 6” pot- filled approximately 2” wet and lightly packed Fluval stratum, 1”, 1”, repeating process. Then placed plants burying tips-1/2 of roots. Added 1”ish sand then 1”ish gravel up to a little below crowns. 
 

 

 

 

plan on doing another pot today with 3 plants as well. My other 2 clippings are not doing as well, both showing new growth but very small but both of them got trimmed back all leaves to the crown.