What Is The Best Way To Plant Plants

[hedgehog738]

some people put sponge and then a metal wight on. Others say just the lead weights. and some people dont use any weights but then it just seems to float. So whats the best method and how do you do it?
thanks george.

 

[ian]

the best way to do it is just to trim the roots and plant. Its not a great idea to use weights as it can stunt the plants and lead to dying plants. You'll need at least 2" or more depth of substrate.

 

[hedgehog738]

the best way to do it is just to trim the roots and plant. Its not a great idea to use weights as it can stunt the plants and lead to dying plants. You'll need at least 2" or more depth of substrate.

hi, doesnt trimming the roots kill the plants?

 

[Ryefish]

If you leave some roots on the plants, and trim away the old and/or dead ones, then trimming roots encourages the plant to grow new ones. If there are any brown coloured roots i always trim them off and leave the nice healthy white ones.
I always remove the sponge and the weights on the plants.

 

[JoshuaA]

If plants needed lead weights they would of evolved with them, That's of course if you believe in evolution.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

A fine pair of foreceps (sp?) makes planting new greenery look much easier, although I've yet to try it. Planting stuff like helferi is liable to bring on "all fingers and thumbs syndrome" where the plant either (re-)floats back to the water surface (one of my pet hates this species) or you worry that you have burried too much of the leaves and it will not be able to photosynthesize, despite not floating down the river!

 

[hedgehog738]

ok thanks so i will take the weights off and see what happens. my only worry is some of my fish are crazy so they might keep uprooting the plants if there are no weights.