Beginner Plant Help

So I popped in by Aqua-Terra on Saturday and bought something like 20 potted plants.

Now I've always wondered about whether they should stay potted, or replanted, or some potted some replanted.

So what I did was take all the ones with serious roots, and cut the roots down from the pots and then took them out of the packing material as much as possible and planted them as is.

Some of the others literally just looked like bunches packed together, so I left those in the pots.

Should I have done otherwise?


This is somewhat of an experiment, thus I took as great a variety as I could find, so as to duplicate sets of plants across the Malawi and Oscar tank in the hopes of seeing what survives and what doesn't, so I can get more of those plants in future.

Took a whole lot of what I believe to be "Water Wisteria" as I believe that's an easy plant, since it can also be a floater, and thus should stand somewhat of a better chance against the Cichlids.

Also popped a whole lot into the fishless pond outside, as "backup".

 

what do you have for substrate and lighting ?

 

I would say pretty big sand granules, because it's not quite gravel but not quite sand in my opinion.

Lighting at this stage is 2x10W underwater all-in-one jobbies, and 1 x 35W T8 in the Oscar tank.

Jebo Malawi has 1 x 20w 100 000k, 1 x 25w 100 000k and 1 x 25w Red Light, naturally more geared towards a planted tank, but full of Malawi's of course.

Oh and the Jebo is pure gravel, no doubt about that.

 

100 000k ? Are you sure that is correct ? You would need some more light if you want the plants to thrive, also a diy substrate mix, what works for me is a mix of : vermiculite, canadian peat, flourite and some potting soil. You put this mix in the tank first, while damp, and press it down firmly, then cover with what ever other substrate you like. Plants do well in that mix with correct lighting, but there is loads more info on the web ln this subject.

 

10 000k? I know it's something like that.

Well all of that a side, I'm still wondering about whether they should remain potted or not?

I'm not particularly interested in going for a completely planted tank, just want something that will grow (or at least stay alive) in the conditions that I have, so as not to resort to putting fake plants in the tank.

 

take them out of the pots, but if everything isnt in place they will just slowly rot away

 

Thanks.

 

Take them out the pots. That stuff they put the plants in gets stuck in the fish's gills and causes problems.

Bear in mind some plants like their roots buried in the substrate, some prefer to have there roots exposed and tied to a rock or wood.

 

Were is Aqua-Terra ?

 

What if there aren't any roots?

On the Old Bottelary road.

 

Stick them straight into the substrate if they don't have roots or rhizomes.

 

Whats a Rhizome? :embarrest::embarrest::embarrest:

 

Erm - how to describe it.....

Okay, I'll try.....it is a thickish 'root' which grows perpendicular to the actually plant - so if you take the plant with the rhizome it forms almost an L shape. An example is the anubius plants.

 

Ahh okay, I bought some plants Saturday with roots like that.

 

From wiki:

 

Thanks Henk - that explains it so much better! My brain is mush at the moment so describing that in my current condition is just not an easy task

 

I do believe Zaf is going to "kneel down before your (henk) greatness if you can awnser me this...." and damn i did it on the phone

 

Yea yea I said it - I gotta do it

Can I do it with smileys ???? :adore::adore::adore::adore::adore::adore::adore::adore::adore::adore:

We are not worthy ....

Thanks for the eel ID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

hehehehehehe