How to plant crypts?

[FroFro]

I have wendtii and undulata crypts I've bought and I don't really know how to plant them. Is sand/small substrate suitable for them? I've also purchased root tabs to place beneath the gravel along with my usual liquid plant supplement. Also, how tall do these plants get? I'm wondering if I should place them near the back of the tank if they grow tall.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Small substrate is fine.
Plant them as you would terrestrial plants... bury the roots.
Wendtii is medium height, middle area.
undulate can grow 14 inches when mature, background.

 

[Byron]

Agree, and will add on the fertilizer question that substrate tabs are fine, I use Seachem's Flourish Tabs. The API tabs have been reported to have issues so I wouldn't get those.

You can also use a comprehensive liquid fertilizer, like Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement or Brightwell Aquatics' FlorinMulti. [If you get either, make sure it is these as they make several different products under the "Flourish" and "Florin" names.] These two both contain all essential nutrients in the right proportions. Not knowing your GH (the source of the "hard" minerals) or fish load (fish food provides nutrients when the organic waste is broken down in the substrate and taken up by plants) I can't say if you may or may not need this.

The nice thing about Flourish Tabs is that they do not release minerals into the water column except as the plants take them up from the water in the substrate, so it is easier to not have algae issues from too much fertilizer, something I have had more than once.

Byron.

 

[Baker]

Another thing to keep in mind, crypts are notorious for melting back once planted, this is because they're grown emerged and need time to convert to their aquatic leaves. Hey are also very finicky about being relocated. It's recommended that you don't keep uprooting and re planting crypts once they're established.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

I agree on all points. Lol. at least with the wendtii, I've noticed that if planted closer together, it grows taller and more upright. If planted a ways apart, it will stay lower to the substrate. And sort of lay over it.

 

[Demeter32]

Crypts are heavy root feeders, so root tabs are a must. I don't use liquid fertilizers with mine and they are in a dirted tank, so I don't use root tabs either. Mine are probably the hardiest kind, wendtii, and they grow about 4-6 inches tall in my tank. They are happy and healthy in low lighting @ 1.5 watts per gallon, producing loads of runners.

I'm not familiar with the type you have so they may end up growing pretty tall. I've yet to have any of my crypts melt back, but I hear it is quite common so don't pull the plants if all their leaves die off, just wait a few weeks to see if they grow back.

To plant, just trim the roots to about 3-4 inches, also trim any damaged or yellowing leaves and then gently push them into the gravel. I like to hold the ends of the roots by my finger tips (like a pinching from) and then put my fingers into the gravel and let them go when they're deep enough. You can use larger rocks to keep them in place if they don't want to stay.