the best is a laterite or substrate (such as flora base). You gotta read up on keeping plants healthy and what parameters you need in your tank. Because you have a smaller tank it's goin to be harder just because the amount of volume of water you have is little compared to say a 40 gallon. But yes there are tons of people that do planted 10 gallons and come out very well. It takes alot of money and dedication but it's worth it in the end. You'll have to buy testing kits, for KH, PH, Nitrite,Nitrate, ammonia etc. Plus you'll have to figure out about fertz and stuff like that. Read up alot on it.
Post your parameters if you got them. In your case i would go for low level plants, such as java ferns. Lots of people can give you different tpes of low level plants.
