Aquatic Plants Direct Online

Putting the record straight !!

True Aquatics vs. Marginal / bog plants  vs. Terrestrial garden plants

I personally have been growing aquarium plants and aquascaping  aquariums for over 30yrs in Perth Western Australia this a brief outline of aquarium plants for the beginner.

Environmental Conditions

To grow plants you must first understand the environment most plants come from, aquarium plants are mostly plants that grow in water some grow their entire lives submerged (under water) most however grow on the edges of rivers and on flood plains so have adapted to extreme  rise and fall of most rivers some spending 8-9 months submerged while others adapted to having dry conditions for months on end so when a flood comes they quickly flower and set seed.

Commercial Growing conditions

When you purchase almost ALL aquarium plants from retailers the plants have been farmed in the optimum growing conditions this is usually in a hot house in a hydroponic system as all aquarium plants grow quickly emerged ( above the water ) with the exception of the true aquatics like Valis and Apponogetons The other factor to consider is lighting being grown in a hot house means they have full sunlight to grow by.

Retail Shops

Wen a shop orders their plants they usually receive the plants potted in tubes most if not all the plants have been in the tubes for less than 2 weeks  this is barely long enough for the cuttings to have produced roots ( do not purchase if there is no roots showing through the drain holes in the tubes) All of these are grown emerged except Valis. Customers sometimes trade submersed plants this is the best type to get hold off as the plants have adapted to home aquarium conditions. The plants are then placed submersed  in display tanks to show them off  so they look good so you will buy them usually this aquarium has strong lighting ( strong dose not mean correct ) As its difficult and expensive to provide correct lighting in a retail shop.

When you buy

You should take the plants out of the tubes and wash off any dead or decaying material

then plant out into your aquarium. Be aware that most of your plants will need to adapt to your aquarium, they do this over a few weeks by loosing leaves and stems rotting if this happens remove the decaying stuff ASAP  the tips will then produce the new submersed  growth  ( 90% of the submerged leaves are vastly different to the emerged leaves )this applies to stem plants not swords as these are the easiest to grow along with valis.

Remember !! Gravel + lighting

As I have said all of the plants we  plant and use in aquariums come from riverbanks we need to understand that river banks are mostly nutrient rich and high in minerals.

and for the most part are in full / filtered Sun light . So we need to replicate those conditions in our aquariums. Water quality is normally the same as for a community aquarium  if you see black waters and brackish waters you will notice poor plant growth.

Ideal growing parameters

Substrate  - Rich clay + Seachem fluorite mix covered with gravel

pH - 6.5  to 7.2

Lighting - As full spectrum as possible minimum of 1-2 watts per Liter

Fertilizer - I recommend using Seachem’s range but with experience you will understand that plants will show signs of when they need a feed as a aquarium with fish is usually sufficient

Co2 I personally find that you need professional advice and a few years of experience before attempting this.