​Growing aquarium plants can change an ordinary fish tank into a beautiful underwater garden. There are many different types of aquarium plants, but they all have one thing in common; they have adapted to living in a water saturated environment. They thrive with their feet wet in soggy soil and many prefer to be submerged. Growing Info and Care of Aquarium Plants Sometimes called hydrophytes, these different types of aquarium plants offer such a variety of shape and form.It’s entirely possible you’ll want to create an underwater garden without the fish! For the best and easiest care of aquarium plants, your tank should receive plenty of light. Like their surface-bound cousins, these plants need the energy produced through photosynthesis to survive and photosynthesis can’t occur without sunlight or an artificial substitute. Aquarium plant how-to depends a great deal on the plants involved. When choosing varieties, look for those that share common light and nutritional requirements. For instance, in such a closed and confined environment, it would be difficult to satisfy the needs of both a bright light and minimal light plant. Types of Plants That Can Be Used in an Aquarium There are three main types of plants that can be used in an aquarium that we’ll be talking about here: rooted plants, bunch plants, and floating plants. Rooted Plants Rooted plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They spread from runners rather than seed. These are the plants that can be used in an aquarium garden for background plantings. Learning how to grow aquarium plants begins with these. These plants need their roots firmly planted in the gravel, but take care; for plants like this shouldn’t be planted too deeply, only to the base of the crown. Choose two different varieties for the back corners of your tank and if it’s a large tank, choose a third for the middle. Rooted plants usually grow from 8 to 12 inches tall and although there are many available, the few offered here were chosen for their contrasting shapes and popularity. Eel Grass (Vallisneria): Leaves are light green ribbons. Some are corkscrewed. All bend and twist with the slightest water movement. Sword Plant: This bright green beauty is one of the few types of aquarium plants that should be grown in pots. Use a shallow one with soil filling the bottom half topped by gravel or sand. Fanwort (Cabomba): Light green, fan shaped, feathery leaves grow from central stalks. This one’s an eye-catcher. Elodea: Narrow leaves grow around stems that can reach 3 feet long. Bunch Plants Bunch plants get their names from the way they are planted, in groups or bunches. They grow rapidly and need lots of light. Bunch plants can be used in an aquarium equivalent of middle ground plants. Each individual strand should be planted in its own hole. A pair of tweezers works well as a planting instrument. Anacharis: Fine and feathery, it makes a great place for small fry fish to hide. Ambulia: Light green, fan-like leaflets circle around slender stems. Bacopa australis: Small round leaves. When planted closely, it looks like a miniature shrub. Floating Plants Floating plants take root in water, but don’t need to be anchored to the gravel. When it comes to how to grow aquarium plants, this type only needs a source of light. The more light, the faster they grow. Beware! These rapidly growing aquarium plants can take over in no time. Crystalwort: Bright green and it grows in thick mats similar to moss. Hornwort: An oxygenating plant with whirling narrow leaves on bushy stems. Anacharis: The same plant as the bunch variety, but allowed to float free. Growing aquarium plants can be both beautiful and functional. They absorb CO2 and release oxygen just as their land-bound counterparts. Nitrates accumulation can be a problem in the care of aquariums. However, aquarium plants help remove nitrates from the water. They harbor beneficial bacteria and help prevent algae growth. They also provide food for your fish. With all the benefits of growing aquarium plants, why wouldn’t you give it a try? NOTE: The use of native plants in a home water garden or aquarium (referred to as wild harvesting) can be risky, as most natural water features are host to a plethora of parasites. Any plants taken from a natural water source should be quarantined overnight in a strong solution of potassium permanganate to kill any parasites prior to introducing them into your pond. That being said, it is always best to obtain water garden plants from a reputable nursery

Read more at Gardening Know How: Aquarium Plant How To: Types Of Plants That Can Be Used In An Aquarium https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/water-plants/wgen/types-of-aquarium-plants.htm

​

Planting the aquarium is an important part of a planted aquarium. Before planting can begin a small amount of planning can go a long way. A few hours spent planning making sure that you know where each plant is going to go and what your expectations are after a few months of growth will save hours of headache.

During this planning stage factor in the addition of interesting rocks and driftwood which can give your aquarium a very natural tone. Consistent use of one type of rock or driftwood in the tank yields the most aesthetically pleasing results. Plan with foresight and structure your hardscape to suit an aquarium with a few months of growth.

If you have bought your plants and the tank is ready, it’s time to plant! This is an important part which will take some time and could be frustrating, make sure you give yourself at least a few hours uninterrupted.

Stem Plants

• When bought these usually come with elastic or wire around the base holding the stems together. Carefully remove this wire to separate each of the stems. You could plant stem plants densely all in one bunch but it gives a nicer feel if they are spread out along the background. At first you probably won't have enough stems to fill the background layer.

• This is not a concern as the stems will soon grow and you will be able to propagate the tops in no time. Having taller stems in each of the corners and then shorter ones in the centre will give the aquarium a mountainous shape. In this manner the plants will also hide the heater and filter lines. These stems should be pushed about an inch or two into the substrate. Soon they will grow a strong root system and they will grow noticebly faster!

Anubais and Java Fern

• These types of plants will need to be attached to the wood or submerged rocks within the aquarium as this is how they exist and grow in nature. Often times you may be able to wedge ferns and anubais between rocks and hardscape to prevent them from floating away. When plants are needed in specific areas they will often need to be tied on.

• Fishing wire is an option to tie plants onto hardscape and is virtually invisible once the plant begins to grow. However it can sometimes restrict the plants growth and will not dissolve in the aquarium water. Cotton thread is a more appropriate choice as it will eventually dissolve in the water column. It is harder to tie the plants to the hardscape and it not suitable for larger plants but once dissolved the plant will be well adhered to the rock.

Crypts/potted plants

• Crypts and potted plants will generally come in small plastic or clay pots with cotton wool to protect the root structure and provide an intermittent substrate.

• To plant potted aquatic plants like these, take out the wool and carefully remove the plant from the pot making sure to be extra careful with the root system.

• Although potted plants can be placed directly into the substrate with the pot, this is not recommended and will limit the plants growth. The easiest way to plant crypts and other potted plants is dig a small hole in the gravel, push the plant into it and cover it up on all sides after removing from the pot.

Moss

• Moss will look its best when it is placed on wood, rocks and other hardscape. It is a beautiful addition to the aquarium due to its light feathery texture that will sway with the aquariums natural currents. It is a fast growing plant especially in open areas and close to the surface.

• Moss can be grown just about anywhere in the planted aquarium but looks best with a dark contrast background such as black rock or darker driftwood. To attach moss such as Christmas Moss, Java Moss, Peacock Moss or Flame Moss (just to name a few of the more popular types) a similar method is used to planting anubais and java ferns.

• Planting moss can be an extremely frustrating process due to moss size and density. Switching off the filter is an excellent idea and will make the planting go much more smoothly. The easiest method for planting is to tie on the moss with fine colourless cotton string.

• This can be made even easier by removing relevant hardscape pieces and doing this process outside of the aquarium. Another excellent method of planting that avoids the use of tying fine thread involves coins. In this method by using an inert coin it can be placed directly onto the moss to weigh it down. After some time, usually within a week, the coin can be removed from the aquarium and the moss 'feet' will have grown onto the ornament.

Hair grass

• Hair Grass usually can be bought in small pots with tens of stems. It is relatively cheap for a substrate plant and can be grown in lower light conditions. As the name suggests, it has a unique property of being able to grow along the bottom of the aquarium in a similar fashion to grass on land. When planting hairgrass it is important to carefully remove the stems from the pot with minimal handling of the roots.

• At this stage it is possible to spread out each shoot into one or two stems. From here plant each thin stem about half an inch from the next in a grid pattern. There are a number of advantages to this. Hairgrass will spread naturally and densely. Planting with foresight will save money and allow easy monitoring of the hairgrass.Ultimately within a few months you will be left with a grass floor of the aquarium.

Brief Tips

• Remember to make use of a strong aquarium light, co2 and fertilizers. This is especially important in the initital stages after planting. The plants have been depleted and begin to grow back their rooting system within their new aquarium.

• When purchasing aquatic plants look for healthy, budding plants that show signs of white roots. Look carefully in the display tank for any signs of algae. Most algae reproduce by spores and are invisible to the eye, even if the plant looks healthy you can still be introducing foreign spores.

• Always research plants before buying them. Many unreputable LFS sell aquatic plants such as the aluminium plant that is unsuitable for long term culture in an aquarium.

• Rarer, easy to care for or unusual mosses are usually unavailable at most LFS. Online forums provide an excellent way to purchase plants from reputable growers and high quality aquarists.

​

When to plant aquatics

Mid-spring through to early summer is the best time to purchase new plants. This is a good time to plant, as the water is warming up and plants should establish well.

Planting aquatics

Before you begin to plant, you will need the following:

Containers: In smaller ponds, aquatic plants benefit from being grown in containers as this helps prevent them becoming too large and invasive. Proprietary containers (aquatic baskets) usually have lattice sides to allow water, air and other gas movement. Unless they have a very fine mesh, they should be lined with hessian or polypropylene fabrics to prevent soil washing out from the container.

Soil: Compost suitable for planting aquatic plants should be a medium to heavy loam. Garden soil can be used if it is free from fertiliser and herbicides. Otherwise, a proprietary aquatic compost should be used (this may contain a slow-release fertiliser that won’t seep out into the water).

How to plant

• Choose an appropriate container for the size of the plant

• For stability, particularly for taller plants, large rocks and stones may need to be placed in the base of containers

• Part-fill the container with compost

• Plants should be planted to the same depth as in the original container. However, plants with rhizomes are positioned so the rhizomes are just above the soil’s surface. Firm plants in well

• Apply a thin layer of grit or fine gravel to prevent fish from stirring up the soil

 

Different plants for different places

Different plants are adapted to grow in different locations in and around the pond. It is best to choose the right one for the location you have in mind so that they are successful.

Deep water aquatics

These can be bought as container-grown or bare-rooted plants. Container-grown plants may need potting into larger containers. Bare-rooted plants should have old roots and large leaves removed before planting. Newly planted containers may need to be raised on bricks so the plants are not too deep and any leaves that float on the surface are not submerged. They are then lowered in stages as their leaves reach the surface, until the appropriate depth is reached.

Floating plants

Introduce floating aquatics to the pool by placing them gently on the water’s surface. Clumps may need separating first. One plant per square metre of surface area should be sufficient. Avoid invasive floating plants, see our advice aquatic weeds for further information.

Marginals

Marginals are grown on the inside edge of the pond, or in a bog garden. If bought in plastic pots or small baskets, replant into aquatic baskets. When planting bare-rooted plants in summer, trim back the tops by half and trim the roots back to within 2.5cm (1in) of the crown.

Submerged aquatics

Oxygenating plants can be purchased in bunches and are planted into baskets. They will need anchoring firmly in place. Approximately four to five bunches, each containing three to four stems, per square metre of water surface should be sufficient. As these plants respire at night, too many can lead to a lack of oxygen at night during the summer causing fish to die. Avoid invasive species such as Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrot’s feather).