Ew! Plant Newbie Here. :)

[kevinthecow]

Well yeah, been keeping fishes for a year and almost a half and I haven't had not ONE single plant.
till two days ago? Got one amazon sword plant, 29g.
So, what're the basics to plants? I want to get a few more?

(Sorry if they're stupid questions, but hey everyone learns something here and there.)

How does fertilizer work? Do I need it if I were to get like four more sword plants and a couple others? (Liquid, right? brand?)
Can they last at least two hours without water, but in a bag?
Plants need co2? How do I know if I have it or not?
What about nitrates? Is it possible to run out of it?
AAand lastly, when bought they come with that little pot. do I take the pot out and put the plant into the gravel with the roots spreaded? Or do the roots get shoved into the pot?

again, sorry for some stupid questions ):

thanks though for replies/just reading it.

 

[kevinthecow]

anyone? desperate help,

 

[Underwurlde]

Morning:

So, what're the basics to plants? To grow, plants need light. Light drives nutrient uptake & CO2 uptake. If you don't provided enough of these to match the lighting levels then expect deformed plants (deficient plants) and or algae.

I want to get a few more? Is that a question or a statement?

(Sorry if they're stupid questions, but hey everyone learns something here and there.) No question is stupid. Stupid is to not ask in the first place.

How does fertilizer work? Tabs, raw or liquid. Tabs get shoved into the substrate near the roots. Raw gets dumped into the tank as does liquid. Ferts is basically plant 'food' and can be absorbed via the roots or the leaves.

Do I need it if I were to get like four more sword plants and a couple others? (Liquid, right? brand?) - Yep. try TPN+ for 'everything'

Can they last at least two hours without water, but in a bag? - Oh yes, they can be delivered as such in air tight sealed bags for 2-3 days in darkness.

Plants need co2? How do I know if I have it or not? You will have it, but it is the levels that count. A planted tank is either low-tech or high tech depending on one cructial starting point: The amount of (correct) lighting. GENERALLY speaking less than 2.0WPG, is low-tech, above this is high-tech. A high-tech setup then requires CO2, either from a DIY yeast kit or via pressurized CO2... now we're getting expensive.

CO2 levels in water is notoriusly difficult to measure accurately, but there are clever ways & means.

What about nitrates? Is it possible to run out of it? Fish produce Nitrates (via the filter) so don't worry about it really.

AAand lastly, when bought they come with that little pot. do I take the pot out and put the plant into the gravel with the roots spreaded? Or do the roots get shoved into the pot? SOMETIMES they come in a stupid pot, ordered on-line probably not. Alwyas take them out of any pot & then spend the next 2 hours separating the individual plantlets out by unravelling the roots from each other and from the wierd green wool stuff they are usually grown in.


Andy

 

[kevinthecow]

Whoa! You're great help man!
I can't thank you enough, I'll put the roots out of the pots right now.
btw, regarding the bag issue and how long they can stay inside, what if It wasn't air sealed? Would the plant become damaged?

gee, people would be intimidated by the wall of text. thanks for the help, a lot of thanks!

 

[Underwurlde]

heh, that's a small post. Anyway, no problemo, my pleasure.

btw, regarding the bag issue and how long they can stay inside, what if It wasn't air sealed? Would the plant become damaged?

As long as the bag is in darkness up to a week I guess. They seal the bags somewhat to prevent them drying out & yeah, if the plant dries out it will pop its clogs.

Andy