Aquarists pay attention to he althy, strong aquatic plants when purchasing. To ensure that it stays that way, important criteria must be taken into account when inserting it. Read this guide on how to properly use aquarium plants.
How do you use aquarium plants correctly?
To use aquarium plants correctly, remove them from the mesh pot, remove the rock wool and cut off damaged shoots and roots. Fill the basin 1/3 full with water and plant from foreground to background. Epiphytes are attached to stones or branches.
Preparatory work
Beautiful aquatic plants are preferred in mesh pots with natural rock wool as a substrate medium. After insertion, both components disrupt the visual appearance and must be removed. This is how you optimally prepare aquarium plants before inserting them:
- Pulling the water plant out of the mesh pot
- Removing rock wool with your fingers
- Cut off broken shoots and roots that are too long with sharp, disinfected scissors
- Plucking wilted, damaged leaves
Beginners often ask themselves: Can you use aquarium plants in a pot? This planting technique is not advisable for two reasons. In the pot, the roots lack space to develop he althily and vitally. Sooner or later, fishing fish expose the unsightly plant pots.
Inserting aquarium plants – instructions
A detailed planting plan guarantees smooth planting in the aquarium. In the floor plan, mark which aquatic plants are intended to be in the foreground, in the middle of the pool and as a background. Mark the positions of the filter, heater and decorative elements. This saves you the hassle of having to change things afterwards. The following instructions explain step by step how to skillfully use the prepared aquarium plants:
- Fill the basin 1/3 full with water
- Insert small aquarium plants into the soil substrate in the foreground
- Fill water up to 1/2 pool height
- Plant medium-sized aquatic plants in the middle of the tank
- Pour remaining water into the basin
- Use backdrop plants in the back of the aquarium
For the correct 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 sitting in the mesh pot. During this process, roots, shoots and leaves must not be bent.
Special case: insert epiphytes
Epiphytes are the decorative highlight in the beautifully designed aquarium. Green beauties such as dwarf spearleaf (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 attached to their base before being inserted. This is easy to do with a special, non-toxic underwater glue (€15.00 on Amazon), fishing line or binding wire.
Tip
You should fertilize aquarium plants one week after inserting them. Administer a high-quality soil fertilizer in practical capsule or tablet form. Over a period of three months, valuable nutrients, trace elements and biostimulators are released to the aquatic plants for lush, he althy growth.
