| In a freshwater planted aquarium a range of plant | | | | to see how many plants are actually in the basket. |
| types are used and they come in a variety of forms. | | | | Quite often there may be four or five plants potted |
| And in the same way fishes do, they also have | | | | as one. These need to be separated and planted |
| requirements for specific water temperatures and | | | | individually. |
| lighting so you must find this out before you start | | | | Bulbs and Corms |
| planting them in your aquarium. | | | | The most well known species are the Aponogeton |
| Marginal Plants | | | | and Nymphaea. The Aponogeton have long pretty |
| The majority of aquarium plants come within this | | | | leaves and you can get flowers and if you are lucky |
| category. In nature they are submerged for just a | | | | they will seed giving you new plants. The Nymphaea |
| section of the year. Throughout the dry season they | | | | produce attractive leaves, varying from pink to red, |
| will grow out from the water and the majority flower | | | | under the water but you must make sure that lily |
| and seed at that time. | | | | pads are not formed on the surface. If you do not |
| Cryptocoryne genus and Echinodorus genus are good | | | | then the surface will get covered by them and no |
| examples. There are more than 50 species under the | | | | light will get to your plants. |
| genus Cryptocorynes and the Amazon Sword | | | | Floating Plants |
| species, Echinodorus amazonicus), is very popular | | | | Not often used in community tanks as again they will |
| amongst the genus Echinodorus. | | | | cut out light to your other plants. But they are useful |
| Real Aquatic Plants | | | | in breeding tanks for hiding places and spawning |
| Often sold as cuttings these aquatic plants are | | | | locations. Often used are Riccia, Ceratopteris |
| proper aquatic plants because they are submerged in | | | | thalictroides (Indian Fern) and Pistia stratiotes (Water |
| the water and must stay that way. A good example | | | | lettuce). But avoid Lemna (Duckweed) like the plague |
| is Cabomba caroliniana, which is from the genus | | | | as it will multiply very quickly and cover the surface |
| Cabomba and usually called the Green Cabomba. | | | | completely. |
| Terrestial Plants Are A No No | | | | Feeding |
| You can not leave these plants submerged for a long | | | | Rooted plants can be fed with fertilizer pellets so |
| time in your freshwater aquarium because bad water | | | | they can grow healthily but be careful not to use too |
| quality will happen due to them rotting. Sometimes | | | | much. |
| these are sold as aquatic plants so look out for them. | | | | Lighting and Water Temperatures |
| Cuttings | | | | Cabomba plants for the aquarium need warm water |
| Cabomba is a very popular choice for the aquarium | | | | temperatures (from 18 to 32 degrees centigrade) |
| but is also one of the more difficult to succeed with. | | | | and good light levels (up to 3 watts per gallon). |
| It is good for hiding heaters and pipes but it also | | | | Cryptocorynes don't need bright lighting and in fact |
| means that its delicate fronds can be easily damaged | | | | are good with low to moderate lighting conditions and |
| in an area with fast moving water. A more hardy | | | | a temperature range of around 20 to 33 degrees |
| species can be used for this situation; the Hygrophilia. | | | | centigrade. |
| Rooted Plants | | | | Propagation |
| As some of these can grow to a large size (for | | | | Cabomba can be propagated by cuttings with good |
| example the Amazon Swordplants) choose carefully | | | | light conditions to facilitate rooting. Cabomba is a plant |
| so they fit in with the size of your aquarium. Plants | | | | that is very easily cloned. Cut them in half after they |
| that are easier to manage are the E. paniculatus and | | | | reach 15-20 cm at the node or branch. Just stick it in |
| the E. tenellus which is ideal for the front of your | | | | the gravel and the plant does the rest. |
| tank as it quickly covers the substrate. Others such | | | | Other plants, such as the Cryptocoryne species, give |
| as the slow growing Cryptocoryne species will need | | | | out runners that go into the substrate and form |
| to be thinned out after they establish themselves | | | | more plants. And others, such as Microsorium |
| and grow in bunches. | | | | pteropus (Java Fern) and Ceratopteris thalictroides |
| Basket Grown Plants | | | | (Indian Fern), grow small plantlets from their leaves |
| These can be either planted as they are, in the | | | | which drop off or can be taken off to form new |
| basket, or preferably out of the basket. And check | | | | plants. |