How Should I Buy My Plants?

[Alm0stAwesome]

Hi guys, I'm sure this is on the forum somewhere but I haven't found it thus far!

I haven't actually bought plants from a "commercial body" as of yet, having got them off forum members or some came with my used tank and I'm unsure what the +/- of buying plants in their different forms are. From what I can tell you have the option to buy plants in the following ways: per plant, bunch, pot or Tropica Pot. Could someone either link me to where this info is or explain the benefits and drawbacks of the different formats?

Thanks!

 

[KkAaNnEe]

In my experience potted is always the best and most expensive, you notmally get the most plants from a pot along with good roots. Bunches are ok but contain less plants and sometimes lack roots but are cheaper. Tropica is a brand.

Ive never bought per plant, but im guessing these are just trimmings or runners from the main plants, not too sure

 

[stu40]

I've bought it all sorts of ways in the last year.
Tried various online shops & several LFS
I've come to the conclusion that you get what you pay for.
You can buy Asian stuff online and it may seem cheaper, but you're never really sure how much, or what condition it's going to turn up in.Plus there's the whole pesticide issue that's been going on.
IMO 'Tropica' pots are the best.Good roots, and lots of stems.
E.G my Ludwigia contained approx 8 stems about 8" long, and half a dozen smaller ones.
If you prune the longer stems you can double the amount.So you end up with approx 20, 4" stems for £3-£4
The Baccopa was over 12" and had about 8-9 multi stems.
AquaFleur are a little cheaper but you get slightly less IME.
I'm lucky in that i found a LFS that will order in from both of the above suppliers and do 4 pots for £12 depending on what the plant is.
Online i've used both Aquaessientials & Planted tanks if i have to.
Just my experience.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thanks guys! This has been really helpful. I am a little impatient, as many of us are and I would be really disappointed if I received some tiddly little plant. I have been tempted by Tropica because of what I've heard about them, it's just justifying the cost when I'm planning on doing a pretty big plant order

Any advice out there on who has the best prices on Tropica plants? I had a quick look this weekend and Seapets carry Tropica and they were slightly cheaper than The Green Machine. For example their giant vallis was 50p cheaper than at TGM.

 

[SO19Firearms]

There's the postage aspect to consider but I think it's often worth considering what you want to get from you purchase when deciding on loose, pot, which brand right up to which Shop.
It's worth noting TGM don't just "sell Tropica" they have possibly the best kept plants in the country...if you're lucky enough to buy a plant with a bit of age to it, it'll out class anything that's come straight from Tropica.
AquaEssentials has started to up his game on the plant keeping front too investing time and energy in his hydroponics setup.
But if it's a bunch of Moss you're after or a clump of Riccia...it's unlikely to matter if it's Tropica or Far East, so pay half and buy double the amount

IMO

 

[stu40]

For what's it's worth, i've probably got a Alternanthera going spare (see old 60L journal)
It needs a bit of TLC (not too much). though i do have pest snails.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Ohhhh why you gonna do that to me stu! hehe, I guess you will have seen I was considering alternanthera but I'd opted for the crypt. balansae instead! Yeah I think I've got a secretly growing population of pest snails too, I've only seen two tiny ones but they are just biding their time I'm sure.

You make a good point there Firearms. This is the list of what I'll be ordering (unless stu has managed to sway me lol)

Vallisneria gigantea
Bacopa caroliana
Echinodorus tenellus
Cryptocoryne Green Gecko
Cryptocoryne balansae

I'm thinking the bacopa will be pretty standard from where ever I get it? I'm thinking the echinodorus tenellus may be the same sort of thing? The crypt. green gecko (apparently a variant of wendtii) I've only seen at Aquarium Gardening so that answers that one lol.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Also yesterday I just bought dennerle pots, they are new in at my lfs along with tropica, they were excellent quality and cheaper too

To be honest aqua essentials also are good for the price, most plants are 2.99 and are potted with decent size and roots, postage is just 3.99 1st class, but they don't have everything, for things like vallis im not sure it matters if you buy tropica, I got my vallis from different sources, lfs plantedtanks bunches etc