What Is Laterite And Why Do You Need It?

[Jozlyn]

What is laterite and why do you need it? And what are root tabs?

Is there anyway of keeping plants down without using lead plant anchors?

 

[ChrisP]

Laterite is a fertilization substance that looks kind of gravely, I believe its mainly Fe that it contains. Its used to feed heavy feeding root feeder plants such as Amazon Swords. You don't need to use it if you are using another plant specific substrate. If you do use it you mix it with an inch of gravel or so and then add more gravel on top of that.

As for keeping plants down I usually manage to keep them down just with the roots buried in the gravel alone.

 

[Jozlyn]

What is Fe?

I want to use pool filter sand as a substrate, is that a "plant specific substrate". I have Kuhli Loaches so I need to switch to sand asap.

I'm finding that my plants tend to detach themselves and float to the top without the plant anchors.

Sorry, totally new to this!

 

[nry]

A plant specific substrate is one that is (a bit like soil) something other than inert sand or gravel. It will usually contain a host of nutrients (plant food) to help plants grow well, and is especially beneficial for root feeding plants.

Sand is not a plant specific substrate, you would need to put something beneath the sand to make it more suitable for heavy planting.

Plants should root enough over 3-4 weeks to keep them down in the sand/gravel without the need for lead weights. I used to use small pebbles to hold plants down until they rooted well, push the base of the stem and/or roots below the gravel/sand and then put a pebble over the top of the buried stem/roots. Hopefully this will stop them floating and give them a good chance to root.

Not sure if khuli loaches 'must' have sand though?

Fe is the chemical symbol for Iron.