This aquarium plant, which comes from South Asia, produces curled and beautifully star-shaped leaves. It would be a shame to remove part of it. The plant is also a rather small plant with a height potential of just 10 cm. Does it even have to feel the scissors?
Can you cut Pogostemon helferi and how do you do it correctly?
Pogostemon helferi can be cut if necessary to keep the plant in shape or for propagation. Use a sharp and clean tool to make smooth cuts and not injure the plant. Side shoots can be cut off and replanted or used as epiphytes.
Is cutting part of the care?
Let's first clarify whether cutting the plant is necessary for he althy growth and a beautiful shape. This is not the case if the living conditions offered are optimal:
- Water temperature between 22 and 30 °C
- pH value between 6.2 and 7.8
- sufficient available nutrients
- lots of light
Note:The brighter the location, the bushier the plant grows. Therefore, place it in the front area of the aquarium so that it is not shaded by larger plants.
Shortcuts are still allowed
But if you feel the need to cut your Pogostemon helferi, then you can do it. Pruning is well tolerated. For example, it may be that the plant is developing well and taking up more space than planned. You can even cut Pogostemon back to the ground. The plant will sprout again.
Only use sharp tools
Pogostemon helferi reacts sensitively to injuries, to the point that the plant can even die. Unsuitable or unsharp tools can cause bruises from which the plant will 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 propagate Pogostemon helferi yourself. However, to do this you have to cut parts of an existing plant. If cared for well, the water star, as the plant is often called in this country, produces 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 in another place in the sandy soil. However, every side shoot that is cut off can also develop into an epiphyte. To do this, you have to tie it to a stone or a dead piece of root with nylon thread until it can hold on to it with its own roots.
