Water Wisteria HELP!

[masoud100]

Yesterday I went to PetsMart and bought 3 bunches of Water Wisteria. I rid a lot of reading on them to find about their temperature, lighting, etc and knew it was perfect for my tank. When I bought the 3 bunches each bunch came with some sort of silver looking thing holding the bottom of all the bunched plants togeter. I didnt know whether to keep it like that and stick it into my substrate (Fluval Stratum), or to remove it and plant it in the substrate. Well I left that silver thingy and just sticked it to the substrate is that good or did I do it incorrectly?

Also if I want it to grow more where should I cut it I have no experience in pruning, etc plants so if someone can show me a video the better. I have a 48 inch wide tank and now want my whole background to be govered in this as I just cant express how much not only I but my Tiger Barbs love this plant. The whole day they were inside the bunched up leaves and it was amazing to look at.

I am thinking of adding Red Ludwigia or the scarlet plant for my midground area. Any opinions? I dont have CO2 though but heard it will work it fine without

[Peekay]

You definitely want to take off the silver band and unwrap the wooly stuff from the stems.  Snip off any brown at the root end, then very gently push each stem into the ground.  There are usually 5 or 6 separate plants in the bunch.. give them space!

Stem plants can be cut and the cuttings replanted.  Either:  Cut to the height you want, and replant the top, leaving the bottom in place.  OR:  If the bottom is looking scraggly, gently pull the plant, cut off the old bottom section and replant only the top.

Ludwigia grows in my non-CO2 (Excel only) tank.  I don't get the bright colouring that people who grow it in high tech set-ups get.  But, I like the leaf size and shape, so I don't mind.  (Nice contrast to the fine leaves of your water sprite)

Make sure you

[exv152]

Lead weights are used by retailers to hold the plants down in the substrate, and usually with stem plants that haven't developed a root system to anchor it down. You can keep them or remove them, it's really up to you. I usually remove them.

[masoud100]

Well I got two different responses one saying I must remove the other saying I can choose to remove or keep it on. So for now I will keep it until I get more responses to make my decision.

Also regarding cutting, can someone show me a video as with your description I still dont know where to cut and will probably do it wrong.

[SaZaBaZy]

The "little silver thing" is a lead weight, i remove mine being lead is a contaminant and being less and less used for fishing. 

As for trimming i have hygrophila difformis, "Water Wisteria"   and it grows like a weed in my 65, i just hack the hell out of it and somewhat replant the the stems.  The are a hardy plant and grow quick.

cheers Jordan