Aquarists pay attention to healthy, strong aquatic plants when buying. To ensure that it stays that way, important criteria must be observed when using it. Read this guide on how to use aquarium plants properly.

Aquarium plants are best used with an aquarium 1/3 full

preparatory work

Beautiful aquatic plants are preferred in lattice pots with natural rockwool as a substrate medium. Both components disturb the visual appearance after insertion and have to give way. How to optimally prepare aquarium plants before planting:

  • Pull the water plant out of the grid pot
  • Remove rock wool with your fingers
  • Cut off bent shoots and roots that are too long with sharp, disinfected scissors
  • Pick off wilted, damaged leaves

Beginners often ask themselves: Can you use aquarium plants in pots? This planting technique is not advisable for two reasons. In the pot, the roots lack space to develop healthily and vitally. Bottoming fish will sooner or later expose the unsightly plant pots.

Use aquarium plants - instructions

A detailed planting plan guarantees a smooth planting of the aquarium. Draw in the floor plan which aquatic plants are to be in the foreground, in the middle of the pool and in the background. Mark the positions of the filter, heater and decorative elements. This saves you the hassle of repositioning afterwards. The following instructions explain step by step how to skilfully use the prepared aquarium plants:

  1. Fill the basin 1/3 with water
  2. Place small aquarium plants in the foreground in the soil substrate
  3. Fill with water up to 1/2 basin height
  4. Plant medium-sized aquatic plants in the middle of the tank
  5. Pour the remaining water into the basin
  6. Use backdrop plants in the back area of the aquarium

When using the right planting technique, please proceed as follows: Form a hollow for each aquatic plant. Press the plant deep into the soil substrate. Then slowly pull the plant out again as far as it was previously in the grid pot. During this process, roots, shoots and leaves must not be bent.

Special case: use epiphytes

Epiphytes are the decorative highlight in a beautifully designed aquarium. Green beauties such as dwarf spear leaf (Anubias), Java fern (Microsorum) and Java moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri) are not planted, but are enthroned on stones or branches. For this purpose, the prepared aquarium plants are fastened to their base before they are planted. This is very easy to do with a special, non-toxic underwater glue, fishing line or binding wire.

tips

A week after planting, you should fertilize aquarium plants. Administer a high-quality substrate fertilizer in convenient capsule or tablet form. Over a period of three months, valuable nutrients, trace elements and biostimulators are released to the aquatic plants for lush, healthy growth.

Category:

Vegetable garden