Mutated Java Fern?

[Phoxly]

Sooo being lazy I didn't trim my dead java fern leaves, and they started spawning roots off of them, and now seemingly overnight, those roots have spawned 2-3 baby 1" leaves a piece. About 4 new stems. Should I trim these off...? Or leave it? It looks kinda weird.

[Learn To Fly]

Can you post pics?

[Phoxly]

Added :)

It is a very ugly java fern, and has been through a lot. >__<

[Learn To Fly]

Okay, I see. That's how they reproduce. Leave the leaves with the baby plants on them until the baby plants break loose by themselves and start floating around the tank. You can do what you want with them then, but IME if you take the little baby plants off the "mother" leaf they don't survive so it's best to wait till they drop on their own. Then you can plant them or do whatever.

[1fish2fish]

That is how ferns reproduced (it's called "budding"). Leave the buds on the mother plant until they fall off, sometimes they'll come off if you just brush against them. Either way wait until they are ready to come off. After they're off you can re-tie them and grow new ferns or sell them/give them away.

[Phoxly]

Sweet! I am going to wait and use them for my 20 gal when I upgrade :D :D :D :D thanks for the info!

[Oldfishlady]

I usually remove the baby ferns once they have at least 3 leaves and plenty of roots

You can also have spores on the brown and dead looking leaves, I always leave them in the tank if they detach or on the plant themselves if they don't detach on their own and soon you may see what looks like little hairs or worms (roots) coming off them and soon a leaf will appear