Question about ugly stem plants

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-28-2008, 05:44 PM

Wish I could give you a name of this plant but I can't remember what it is.

Anyway, it is tall and healthy with lots of close nice leaves at the top. The bottom, however, is pretty sparse with just a few leaves every few inches.

I guess I will have to cut all the tops off and replant them but what do I do with the long ugly stems. Just cut them back and hope for new plants from them? I sooooo hate to cut these back when they have finally reached the water surface but I don't want tall, bare plants but bushy ones.

**KingFisher** · 07-28-2008, 05:58 PM

You can plant some mid size plants in front of them to hide the ugly stem parts, and you will still be able to enjoy the nice tops.

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-28-2008, 07:13 PM

I put the tops I cut off infront of the ugly bare stems but they sure look purdy. Like sticks growing from the gravel. LOL

**fins_n_fur** · 07-28-2008, 07:21 PM

LOL Did you take a picture? August TOTM is right around the corner as you know. You might inspire a new wave of minimalistic plant decoration

**smaug** · 07-28-2008, 08:11 PM

Sounds to me like you are lacking the light requirements of this mystery plant.That is how most stem plants react to low light,lose the lower leaves.

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-28-2008, 10:00 PM

Figures. It better come around or go bye-bye then as I am not buying more lights.

**smaug** · 07-28-2008, 11:37 PM

Do you remember yet what it is?The pogostemum I got last month is growing a bit like that for me.It looks like a palm tree?

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-28-2008, 11:52 PM

Naw. Can't remember. I think some of the plants need trimming in order to bush out anyway...like Ludwigia....that just gets a scrawny thin stem if not kept trimmed. We'll see how this works.

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