The window leaf is more popular than ever to create a revitalizing jungle atmosphere in living rooms and offices. Less known is a hidden talent that clever aquarists with a penchant for Monstera know how to take advantage of. Read here what aerial roots have to do with clean water and happy fish.
How can the Monstera plant be used in the aquarium?
Monstera plants can be used as natural water filters in aquariums by placing their aerial roots in the water to absorb nitrate and provide spawning grounds and refuge for fish. This leads to clean water and happy fish in the aquarium.
Aerial roots as water filters, spawning grounds and retreats – this is how it works
The window leaf sends out its aerial roots to collect water and nutrients. The need for nitrate is particularly pronounced because this nutrient makes an important contribution to the growth of the mighty leaves. However, nitrate is undesirable in aquarium water because it is unhe althy or even toxic for many fish. You can read how to reconcile these two characteristics here:
- Place the window leaf in the immediate vicinity of the aquarium
- On large aquariums, attach a crossbar as a flower bench for the window leaf
- Put as many of the aerial roots as possible into the water
- Keep the leafy shoots away from the water with trellises (€279.00 at Amazon)
In this modified form of hydroponics, a dense network of fine roots develops. These filter the nitrate from the water to use it as nitrogen. The fish in the aquarium welcome the roots as a spawning place and hiding place. As practice has shown, the nitrate content in the water fell from 60 mg per liter to 5 mg per liter within 2 months. There were 12 aerial roots climbing into the water from a 3 m high plant.
Modify water supply
The more aerial roots reach into the aquarium water, the less often you will water the window leaf. In contrast, the nitrate filtered from the water does not by any means cover the high nutrient requirements of a mighty Monstera. Please continue the usual fertilization intervals as usual.
Tip
Anyone who limits the window leaf to its decorative value and function as a water filter has not yet tasted its fruit. Where a Monstera deliciosa feels comfortable, sooner or later it will bloom and bear fruit. These are up to 20 cm long and have green plates as a shell. When fully ripe, the peel can be removed to reveal a creamy white flesh with the consistency of bananas and the taste of pineapple.
