- Is cutting part of grooming?
- Shortening is still allowed
- Only use sharp tools
- cutting for propagation
Native to southern Asia, this aquarium plant has ruffled leaves that are beautifully arranged in a star shape. It would be a shame to remove any part of it. The plant is also a rather small plant with a height potential of just 10 cm. Does it even need to feel the scissors?
The star herb can be cut if it gets too tall
Is cutting part of grooming?
Let's first clarify whether pruning the plant is even necessary for healthy growth and a beautiful shape. This is not the case if the given living conditions are optimal:
- Water temperature between 22 and 30 °C
- pH between 6.2 and 7.8
- enough available nutrients
- lots of light
Notice:
The brighter the location, the bushier the plant grows. Therefore, place them in the front area of the aquarium so that they are not shaded by larger plants.
Shortening is still allowed
However, if you feel the need to trim your Pogostemon helferi, then you may do so. Pruning is well tolerated. For example, the plant may develop well and take up more space than planned. You can even cut Pogostemon back to ground level. The plant will sprout again.
Only use sharp tools
Pogostemon helferi is sensitive to injury, to the point that the plant may even die. Unsuitable or unsharp tools can therefore cause bruises from which the plant does not recover.
Use only sharp, cleaned cutting tools to leave smooth, clean cuts. Also, limit the cutting measures to what is really necessary.
cutting for propagation
You can easily multiply Pogostemon helferi yourself. But for this you need to cut parts of an already existing plant. With good care, the water star, as the plant is often called in this country, drives out many side shoots. If they stay on the plant, a dense carpet will develop over time.
You can cut off the side shoots and plant them somewhere else in the sandy soil. Any side shoot that is cut off can also develop into an epiphytic plant. To do this, you must tie it to a rock or piece of dead root with nylon thread until it can cling to it with its own clinging roots.